Portrait medal of George the Bearded (duke of Saxony) (obverse); coat of arms (reverse)

Peter Flötner

1537 · Silver · Robert Lehman Collection

George the Bearded, Duke of Saxony, was one of the more enlightened German princes in the early years of the Reformation. Known as an outstanding ruler, high-minded and deeply concerned for his subjects, he maintained an unerring loyalty to the Holy Roman Emperor. While he initially supported Martin Luther’s Protestant reforms, George ultimately remained a staunch Catholic. This medal’s inscription translates as "His praise shall always be in my mouth." The reverse depicts his coat of arms.

Artist

Peter Flötner

Date

1537

Medium

Silver

Department

Robert Lehman Collection

Credit line

Robert Lehman Collection, 1975