Louis XIII
Medal
1611 (made)
1611 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Often cast in bronze or lead, but sometimes struck in silver or even gold, the portrait medal commemorated individuals and often associated events. Many specialist sculptors from the Renaissance onwards were attracted to this small-scale art form. Inspired by Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers on the obverse and allegorical representations on the reverse, medals were used as gifts and mementoes and eagerly collected. The medal format proved ideal for this type of personal and intimate object.
Guillaume Dupré (1579-1644) was court medallist to Henri IV and principal sculptor to the King. He had a very successful career in France before being invited to Italy in 1612 by the new Duke of Mantua, Francesco IV. He travelled on to Florence the following year. Dupré's grasp of the Italian tradition, together with his considerable technical skills, enabled him to cast medals in a style that proved influential on succeeding generations of French medallists.
Dupré produced several medals of Henri IV and his wife Marie de Medici including one (1603) of their profiles facing right, and two years later a variation with the King looking out. Henri intended for Marie to become Regent when he went on campaign in Germany, but she demanded to be crowned Queen of France. Her coronation took place on 13 May 1610, but Henri was assassinated the next day. Their young son Louis (1601-43) then ruled as Louis XIII with his mother as Regent until 1617. Dupré has here re-used his format of the two faces looking to the right, but in this case son Louis in front of his powerful mother.
Guillaume Dupré (1579-1644) was court medallist to Henri IV and principal sculptor to the King. He had a very successful career in France before being invited to Italy in 1612 by the new Duke of Mantua, Francesco IV. He travelled on to Florence the following year. Dupré's grasp of the Italian tradition, together with his considerable technical skills, enabled him to cast medals in a style that proved influential on succeeding generations of French medallists.
Dupré produced several medals of Henri IV and his wife Marie de Medici including one (1603) of their profiles facing right, and two years later a variation with the King looking out. Henri intended for Marie to become Regent when he went on campaign in Germany, but she demanded to be crowned Queen of France. Her coronation took place on 13 May 1610, but Henri was assassinated the next day. Their young son Louis (1601-43) then ruled as Louis XIII with his mother as Regent until 1617. Dupré has here re-used his format of the two faces looking to the right, but in this case son Louis in front of his powerful mother.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Louis XIII (popular title) |
Materials and techniques | Bronze |
Brief description | Medal, bronze, Louis XIII and Marie de Médici, by Guillaume Dupré, France, dated 1611 |
Physical description | Bronze medal Medal depicts on the obverse the busts to right, superposed, of Louis in front, and Marie de Médici. Louis wears armour and a scarf, and Marie a widow's coif. Inscription. On the reverse to the right Marie de Medici as Minerva, seated wearing a cuirass and helmet, and with a thunderbolt in her left hand and a laurel branch in her right. In the front to the left, Louis, naked, his head surrounded by rays, holding in his left hand a globe, adorned with fleur-de-lis and surmounted by a cross. Inscription. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Credit line | Salting Bequest |
Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
Production | signed |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Often cast in bronze or lead, but sometimes struck in silver or even gold, the portrait medal commemorated individuals and often associated events. Many specialist sculptors from the Renaissance onwards were attracted to this small-scale art form. Inspired by Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers on the obverse and allegorical representations on the reverse, medals were used as gifts and mementoes and eagerly collected. The medal format proved ideal for this type of personal and intimate object. Guillaume Dupré (1579-1644) was court medallist to Henri IV and principal sculptor to the King. He had a very successful career in France before being invited to Italy in 1612 by the new Duke of Mantua, Francesco IV. He travelled on to Florence the following year. Dupré's grasp of the Italian tradition, together with his considerable technical skills, enabled him to cast medals in a style that proved influential on succeeding generations of French medallists. Dupré produced several medals of Henri IV and his wife Marie de Medici including one (1603) of their profiles facing right, and two years later a variation with the King looking out. Henri intended for Marie to become Regent when he went on campaign in Germany, but she demanded to be crowned Queen of France. Her coronation took place on 13 May 1610, but Henri was assassinated the next day. Their young son Louis (1601-43) then ruled as Louis XIII with his mother as Regent until 1617. Dupré has here re-used his format of the two faces looking to the right, but in this case son Louis in front of his powerful mother. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.356-1910 |
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Record created | August 23, 2004 |
Record URL |
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