Balthazar de Villars
Medal
1600 (dated)
1600 (dated)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The medal depicts Balthazar de Villars (1559-1629), who was Lieutenant-general to the "Présidial" of Lyons.
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 | Balthazar de Villars (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Bronze |
Brief description | Medal, bronze, Balthazar de Villars, by Guillaume Dupré, France, dated 1600 |
Physical description | Medal depicts on the obverse the bust to right of Villars, bearded, wearing an embroidered mantle over a doublet, and a ruff. Inscription. On the reverse a shield of arms surmounted by a helmet having for crest a naked man, erased, armed with a club. Inscription. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | The medal depicts Balthazar de Villars (1559-1629), who was Lieutenant-general to the "Présidial" of Lyons. 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.352-1910 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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