Francesco Redi was born in Arezzo on February 18, 1626. He attended the University of Pisa and received doctoral degrees in both medicine and philosophy in 1647. He performed research and experiments in the fields of toxicology, entomology, and parasitology. In a famous series of experiments, he refuted the idea of spontaneous generation by showing that maggots do not arise spontaneously from rotting meat. He also wrote the dithyramb Bacco in Toscana (Bacchus in Tuscany), which was published in 1685. Redi died on March 1, 1697, in Pisa.

This medal was commissioned by Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and relates to Redi's epic poem Bacco in Toscana. Considered one of the finest works of Italian poetry from the 17th century, the dithyramb has Bacchus himself praising the wines and writers of Tuscany. Vannel and Toderi consider this the most successful medal made by Soldani, and perhaps the most beautiful of all the Florentine baroque medals.