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Henri IV, King of France

Medal
1603 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Dupré, Guillaume (medallist)
Place of origin
France (made)

This medal depicts Henri IV (1553-1610), King of France and his second wife Marie de Médicis (1573-1642); they married in 1600. It is made by the medallist Guillaume Dupré, dated 1603.
Born in Florence, Marie was the daughter of Francesco I de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Johanna Archduchess of Austria. Later she became Queen consort of France. Second wife of King Henry IV of France.


Object details

Categories
Coins & Medals
Portraits
Sculpture
Royalty
Object type
Medal
TitleHenri IV, King of France (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Silver gilt
Silver
Gold
Gilding
Brief description
Medal, silver-gilt, Henri IV, King of France and Marie de Medicis, by Guillaume Dupré, France, dated 1603
Physical description
Medal depicts on the obverse the bust to right, superposed, of Henri and Marie de Medicis. Henri is in armour and wears a scarf. Isncription.
On the reverse Henri as Mars, in a cuirass and holding a spear, gives his right hand to Marie, as Minerva, wearing a helmet and the aegis, and carrying a shield. Between them a child (the Dauphin) stands with one foot on a dolphin and places on his head Mars' helmet. Above an eagle flies down towards the dauphin with a crown. Inscription.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 6.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'HENR . IIII R . CHRIST . MARIA . AVGVSTA . - G . DVPRE . F - 1603' (obverse)
  • 'PROPAGO . IMPERI . - 1603' (reverse)
Object history
From the Salting bequest.
Subjects depicted
Helmet
Shield
Dolphins
Henri IV (King of France and Navarre)
Mars
De Medicis, Marie
Minerva
Summary
This medal depicts Henri IV (1553-1610), King of France and his second wife Marie de Médicis (1573-1642); they married in 1600. It is made by the medallist Guillaume Dupré, dated 1603.
Born in Florence, Marie was the daughter of Francesco I de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Johanna Archduchess of Austria. Later she became Queen consort of France. Second wife of King Henry IV of France.
Bibliographic references
  • 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 52
  • Jones, Mark. Catalogue of the French Medals in the British Museum, Vol II, 1600-1672. London: 1988, pp. 58-61, Nos 15&16
  • Cohen, Sarah R. Ruben's France: Gender and Personification in the Marie de Medicis Cycle. The Art Bulletin, September 2003, Vol LXXXV, Nummer 3, pp. 490-522
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.353-1910

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O312258/henri-iv-king-of-france-medal-dupré-guillaume/
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