Assemblage of the Camp at Boulogne for Invasion of England, 1804
Medium
Gilt bronze, struck
Dimensions
Diameter: 41 mm
Classification
Medals and Plaquettes
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Hon. Levi P. Morton, 1885
Accession Number
85.2.74
Art Historical Context
This exquisite gilt bronze medal, struck in 1804 by the Paris Mint under the direction of Baron Dominique Vivant Denon, captures a pivotal moment in Napoleonic history: the massive assemblage of French troops at the Camp of Boulogne. Intended as a staging ground for Napoleon's ambitious plan to invade England, the camp housed over 200,000 soldiers in a display of military might aimed at crossing the Channel. Though the invasion never materialized—thwarted by naval defeats like Trafalgar—the medal served as potent propaganda, glorifying France's readiness and Bonaparte's strategic genius. Meas...
About the Artist
Paris Mint|baron Dominique Vivant Denon ( | ) · 1737 |0864 –1799 |
1737–1799, master 1755|French, 864–present