medallion

1. A round metal object, usually larger than a coin, cast or struck for commemorative purposes.

Medallion with portraits of Louis XII and Anne of Brittany. 1499. Gilded bronze. Walters Art Museum, Baltimore.

2. A round or oval frame containing a relief or pictorial image, used as decoration on a wall, a floor, or a piece of furniture or equipment.
Medallion with an allegorical figure of Justice, Palazzo Montecitorio, Rome. Photo: Simone Ramella.

A free resource for students and teachers, created by Dr. James Terry. Art History Glossary by James Terry is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 .