Diana of Poitiers
Medal
16th century (made)
16th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This is a lead medal made in the 16th century in France. The obverse of this medal represents Diana of Poitiers (1499 –1566), who was a French noblewoman and courtier at the courts of kings Francis I and his son, Henry II of France. It was bought from the Soulages collection. Jules Soulages (1812-1856) was a collector of French and Italian Renaissance art. After his death his collection was acquired by the Museum. Born in Toulouse in 1803, Jules Soulages practised as a lawyer in Paris and was founding member of the Société Archeologique du Midi de la France. He created an extensive collection of French and Italian Renaissance decorative art from 1825, comprising around 750 objects, including furniture, glass, ceramics, bronzes, enamels and ivories. In the late 1840s Soulages moved back to Toulouse, where Henry Cole viewed his collection in 1855. Subsequent sale negotiations led to the production of a catalogue and two exhibitions in England at the Museum of Ornamental Art at Marlborough House, and at the Manchester Art Treasures exhibition respectively, both enhancing the celebrity of the collection, and resulting in its acquisition for the South Kensington Museum. Soulages died on 13 October 1857, aged 54.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Diana of Poitiers (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | |
Brief description | Medal, lead, bust of Diana of Poitiers/Diana trampling under foot Cupid, French, 16th century |
Dimensions |
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Object history | There is an electrotype copy of this medal (inv. no. 1857-105). It was bought from the Soulages collection in 1865. |
Summary | This is a lead medal made in the 16th century in France. The obverse of this medal represents Diana of Poitiers (1499 –1566), who was a French noblewoman and courtier at the courts of kings Francis I and his son, Henry II of France. It was bought from the Soulages collection. Jules Soulages (1812-1856) was a collector of French and Italian Renaissance art. After his death his collection was acquired by the Museum. Born in Toulouse in 1803, Jules Soulages practised as a lawyer in Paris and was founding member of the Société Archeologique du Midi de la France. He created an extensive collection of French and Italian Renaissance decorative art from 1825, comprising around 750 objects, including furniture, glass, ceramics, bronzes, enamels and ivories. In the late 1840s Soulages moved back to Toulouse, where Henry Cole viewed his collection in 1855. Subsequent sale negotiations led to the production of a catalogue and two exhibitions in England at the Museum of Ornamental Art at Marlborough House, and at the Manchester Art Treasures exhibition respectively, both enhancing the celebrity of the collection, and resulting in its acquisition for the South Kensington Museum. Soulages died on 13 October 1857, aged 54. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 737-1865 |
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Record created | May 6, 2008 |
Record URL |
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