Marie de Médicis
Medal
1624 (dated)
1624 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This medal depicts Marie de Médicis (1573-1642). Born in Florence, she 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.
Cast in bronze or lead, the Renaissance portrait medal commemorated individuals or events. They were used as gifts and mementoes and were inspired by Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, eagerly collected by humanists. Many specialist sculptors were attracted to the art form. It was recognised that there was a ready market for medals among the growing class of collectors, usually members of the intelligensia or the gentry, who were attracted to small-scale works of art. The medal format proved ideal for this type of personal and intimate object.
Cast in bronze or lead, the Renaissance portrait medal commemorated individuals or events. They were used as gifts and mementoes and were inspired by Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, eagerly collected by humanists. Many specialist sculptors were attracted to the art form. It was recognised that there was a ready market for medals among the growing class of collectors, usually members of the intelligensia or the gentry, who were attracted to small-scale works of art. The medal format proved ideal for this type of personal and intimate object.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Marie de Médicis (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Medal, bronze, Marie de Médicis, by Guillaume Dupré, France, dated 1624 |
| Physical description | Medal depicts on the obverse the bust to left of Marie, wearing a high lave ruff open in front, and a pearl necklace. The inscription, with exception of the signature is in reverse. No reverse. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'MARIA AVGVSTA GALLIÆ ET NAVARÆ REGINA [in reverse] - G DVPRE F 1624' |
| Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This medal depicts Marie de Médicis (1573-1642). Born in Florence, she 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. Cast in bronze or lead, the Renaissance portrait medal commemorated individuals or events. They were used as gifts and mementoes and were inspired by Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, eagerly collected by humanists. Many specialist sculptors were attracted to the art form. It was recognised that there was a ready market for medals among the growing class of collectors, usually members of the intelligensia or the gentry, who were attracted to small-scale works of art. The medal format proved ideal for this type of personal and intimate object. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.361-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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