Pastorino di Giovan Michele

Pastorino di Giovan Michele was a distinguished metalworker active primarily between 1500 and 1565. His known output focuses on the creation of sophisticated portrait medals, serving as a significant chronicler of high-status individuals during the mid-sixteenth century.

Nine metalworks attributed to Pastorino di Giovan Michele are represented in major museum collections, establishing the historical and artistic relevance of his craft. His surviving pieces are held in institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The subjects of his documented portraits include powerful Italian noblewomen and renowned literary figures. Key works include his depictions of Girolama Sacrata and the double portrait of Eleonore d'Este (1537–1581) and Lucretia d'Este (1535–1597). He repeatedly executed the likeness of the poet, including works titled Ludovico Ariosto, Poet of Ferrara (1474–1533), Lodovico Ariosto 1474-1533, poet, and Lodovico Ariosto of Ferrara (1474–1533).

The surviving portrait medals attributed to Pastorino di Giovan Michele provide essential iconographic records of the period. Today, these historical records, often available through the public domain, allow researchers access to high-quality reproductions. Research into Pastorino di Giovan Michele prints or casts of his original works reveals the meticulous detail of his museum-quality artistry.