Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 3 pages
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Source Description
King Henry IV of France (1553-1609) and his wife Marie de' Medici (1573-1642) are portrayed in profile on this medal, in imitation of ancient Roman coins, which featured the profile of the emperors. Depicting Henry in armor reminded the viewer of the military might of the throne. Including Henry's politically well-connected wife suggests the power of the family dynasty that they wished to found; on the reverse, the royal couple is represented with their son, the future King Louis XIII. Medallions like this were given as gifts to supporters, much as signed photographs are today.Dupré was the greatest French medal portraitist. The modeling of the faces here is sensitive and reflects his work as a sculptor.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
33688
label
Portrait of Henry IV and Marie de' Medici
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
3
Source metadata
id
33688
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Portrait of Henry IV and Marie de' Medici
description
King Henry IV of France (1553-1609) and his wife Marie de' Medici (1573-1642) are portrayed in profile on this medal, in imitation of ancient Roman coins, which featured the profile of the emperors. Depicting Henry in armor reminded the viewer of the military might of the throne. Including Henry's politically well-connected wife suggests the power of the family dynasty that they wished to found; on the reverse, the royal couple is represented with their son, the future King Louis XIII. Medallions like this were given as gifts to supporters, much as signed photographs are today.Dupré was the greatest French medal portraitist. The modeling of the faces here is sensitive and reflects his work as a sculptor.
provenance
Frédéric Spitzer, Paris, by purchase; Sale, Paul Chevallier and Charles Mannheim, April 17, 1893, no. 16; Henry Walters, New York [date of acquisition unknown], by purchase; Sadie Jones (Mrs. Henry Walters), New York, 1931, by inheritance; Sale, Parke-Bernet, New York, May 2, 1941, no. 1271; Douglas Huntly Gordon, Baltimore, 1941, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1941, by gift.
date
1603 (Early Modern)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Coins & Medals
medals
portraits
imageCount
3
pageCount
3
source
import
dimensionsRaw
2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm) (w.)
Source extras
cul
French
inscriptions
HENR. III R. CHRIST. MARIA. AVGVSTA. Signed: G.DVPRE
med
bronze
creator_ids
4984
collection_ids
BAR
exhibition_ids
74
3360
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
79feb5156415a4ec
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
31cb8cefa59c01ea
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
c2e09b1a1c8d7b1a
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no