- Museum number
- 1906,1103.1400
- Description
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Oval cast bronze uniface medal. (whole)
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Louis XIII as Apollo, naked, his head surrounded by rays, holding in his left hand an orb decorated with three fleurs de lys and surmounted by a cross above which shines a star. He is looking up to Marie de Medici, as Minerva, who holds an olive branch in her right hand and a thunderbolt in her left hand. (obverse)
- Production date
- 18thC (aftercast)
- Dimensions
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Thickness: 2.10 - 2.70 millimetres
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Length: 55.000 millimetres
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Weight: 30.95 grammes
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Width: 41.000 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Jones 2
This is a poor, probably eighteenth century, aftercast from the reverse of a medal which has an obverse portrait of Louis XIII (see 2) signed by Dupré and dated 1610.
The medal indicates that, while Louis XIII was titular monarch, the Regent held at her disposal both the benefits of peace and the weapons of war.
When Henri IV announced his intention of making Marie regent before his planned departure on campaign in Germany, she demanded coronation as Queen of France. Though initially reluctant the King acquiesced to her wishes and she was crowned at St Denis on 13 May 1610. Henri was assassinated the following day and, in the absence of the Prince de Condé and the Comte de Soissons and with the assistance of the duc d'Epernon, Marie was able to have her regency confirmed by the Parlement on 14 May and at a Lit de Justice on the following day.
Marie's pleasure in the assumption of power, which was evident to contemporaries, is reflected in this medal and registration no. M.2250 celebrating her regency.
Other examples:
(a) Cabinet des Médailles, Bibliothèque Nationale, 58 rue de Richelieu, 75084 Paris, France (BN, Paris), Sér. Roy 371, bronze, 56 x 42 mm.
(b) BN, Paris, Sér. Roy 374, silver, 57 x 42.5 mm.
(c) BN, Paris, Armand Valton 2074, gilt bronze, 57 x 43 mm.
(d) Musée de l'École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France, Wasset Collection, bronze with loop for suspension.
(e) Musée du Louvre, Paris 1e, France, OA 788, bronze, pierced, 57 x 42 mm. From the Sauvageot gift, 1856.
(f) Albert I Royal Library, Brussels, bronze, with integral loop, 56 x 42 mm.
(g) Hague, bronze, 54.5 x 40.5 mm (53 x 38.5 mm excluding rim).
(h) Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA, bronze gilt, loop for suspension, 56 x 43 mm.
(i) Metropolitan Museum, bronze, loop for suspension, 56 x 42
mm. Poor cast.
(j) National Gallery of Art, 6th Street and Constitution Avenue, Washington DC, 20565, USA, Kress no. 559, bronze, 56 x 42 mm, with loop.
(k) The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia, inv. no. 134, bronze 56 x 42 mm, with loop.
(1) Sammlung von Medaillen, Münzen und Geldzeichen, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
(m) Victoria and Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7, 6750-1860, bronze.
(n) Elvehjem Museum of Art, University of Wisconsin – Madison, USA, bronze, 57 x 42.5 mm. With loop.
(o) Ashmolean Museum Oxford, Bodley Foreign Medals 117, bronze, 58 x 43. Pierced, aftercast.
(p) Ashmolean, bronze, 57 x 43. Pierced, aftercast.
Bibliography:
1. J. de Bie La France métallique 1636 pl. 103 no. 10 and p. 310. Does not give the exergual legend.
2. T.N. Méd. Fr. II pl. IV no. 5.
3. Recueil des médailles c.1685 p. 13 r.
4. Mazerolle II no. 663.
5. Julia Pardoe The Life of Marie de Medicis New York 1902.
6. G. Migeon Catalogue des bronzes au Louvre no. 590.
7. Vernon Hall Collection, no. 174.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
- Commemoration of: Regency of Marie de Medici, 1610
- Acquisition date
- 1906
- Department
- Coins and Medals
- Registration number
- 1906,1103.1400
- C&M catalogue number
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MF2 (Jones 2) (75) (32)
