Women on Portuguese Medals
This exhibition reveals how medals tell stories, showcasing a historical collection that celebrates the impactful women who shaped Portugal's history.
In memory of Princess Leonor, daughter of King Duarte frontMuseu Casa da Moeda
Medals
Medals are objects that tell stories. Those that portray women attest to the way that the multiple faces of Eve, the symbolic first woman, have been created and recreated over the centuries.
Saints and Princesses
The medal was often used to celebrate faith and royal lineage. This was the case with Holy Queen Isabel, whose sanctity was recognised when she was canonised by Pope Urban VIII and has been revisited in modern works by Cabral Antunes.
Saints and Princesses
We also find the daughters of kings, including Infanta Beatriz (Duchess of Savoy) and Princess Joana, immortalised in rare 16th-century pieces by great masters such as Jacopo da Trezzo and Leone Leoni.
Marriages and Alliances - Many medals were minted for public celebrations, particularly royal weddings that united nations. The collection highlights the marriage of Catherine of Braganza and Charles II of England, as well as the unions between Stephanie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and Pedro V, Maria Pia and Luís I, and Amélie of Orléans and Carlos I. These are portraits of joy and diplomacy engraved in silver, copper and gold.
Dedicated to Queen Maria I and King Pedro III frontMuseu Casa da Moeda
Builder Queens and Philanthropy
Medals are also a demonstration of power and feats achieved. Maria I is remembered not just for the Academy of Sciences, but also for the great works she commissioned, such as the Basilica of Estrela and the Temple of Saint Anthony in Mafra.
In the 19th century, Queen Maria II came to the fore with a romantic style, associated with values of kindness. The ‘Philanthropy and Generosity’ medals were created during her reign and designed by artists including Auguste Ferdinand Gérard.
Women of Arts and Letters - History is not just about politics. Through medals forged in bronze and artistic objects in silver, we celebrate the poetry of the Marquess of Alorna and Florbela Espanca, the lyrical voice of Luísa Todi, the writing of Maria Amália Vaz de Carvalho and the unmistakeable painting of Maria Helena Vieira da Silva.
These medals attest to the talent of Portuguese and foreign artists – from the old masters of the 16th century to contemporary figures such as João da Silva, Irene Vilar and José Aurélio.
Curation - Museu Casa da Moeda
For more information about the collection, visit Museu Casa da Moeda.
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