Portrait of an artist (Ritratto d'artista)

As part of the exhibition series “The Medals on Display”, aimed at introducing the museum’s rich numismatic collection to a wider audience, the Civic Archaeological Museum of Bologna presents — starting October 15 — its seventh edition: a themed display dedicated to Giorgio Vasari (Arezzo, 1511 – Florence, 1574), freely accessible in the museum’s atrium.

The numismatic collection of the Civic Archaeological Museum includes numerous medals dedicated to artists. From these, twenty medals have been selected, created between the 16th and 19th centuries, portraying masters active during the 15th and 16th centuries — artists featured in Giorgio Vasari’s celebrated work “Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects”, published in 1568.
The exhibited medals are displayed alongside woodcut portraits (a printmaking technique using carved wooden blocks), which introduce each biography in Lives, creating a fascinating dialogue between art, history, and memory.

The exhibition runs until February 2, 2026.

To present and discuss the project, curator Laura Marchesini will meet with the public on:

• Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 5:00 PM

• Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 5:00 PM

Exhibition curated by Paola Giovetti and Laura Marchesini.