Object Description
Guillaume Dupré (French, c.1574-1643)
Uniface medal of Francesco di Ferdinando de’ Medici (1594-1614), with inscription ‘D . PRINCEPS FRANCISCVS MEDICES’, bust right wearing armour and high collar, beaded border, signed below right shoulder ‘GDP 1613’
France, 1613
Bronze, diam. 88 mm.
Francesco di Ferdinando de’ Medici (1594 – 1614) was Prince of Tuscany and the fourth son of Ferdinand I de’ Medici and Christina of Lorraine. In 1612, at the age of eighteen, he was named Prince of Capestrano, Baron of Carapelle, Lord of Ofena, Castel del Monte and the land of Bussi. He retained the title of Prince of Capestrano until his death.
Destined for a career as a diplomat, he instead preferred to dedicate himself to the military. In 1613 he was in command of the troops sent from Tuscany to aid Ferdinand Gonzaga against the Duke of Savoy, Charles Emmanuel I.
After having gone on a pilgrimage to Loreto in 1614, he died shortly after his return at the age of twenty. A comparable medal in silver is in the British Museum (M.2954), and bronze versions can be found in numerous other museums.