Cardinal Mazarin (1602–61)
1660
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam. 2 in. (51 mm.)
Classification
Medals and Plaquettes
Culture
French, Paris
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Rupert L. Joseph, 1959
Accession Number
60.55.42
Tags
Art Historical Context
This silver medal, created by the French artist Jean Varin in 1660, presents a finely detailed profile portrait of Cardinal Jules Mazarin, the influential Italian-born statesman who served as chief minister to King Louis XIV. Measuring just two inches in diameter, the work captures Mazarin’s likeness with crisp clarity, a hallmark of Varin’s skill in miniature sculpture. As a leading medallist working in Paris during the height of the Baroque period, Varin produced numerous commemorative pieces for the French court, blending classical portrait traditions with contemporary political messaging. ...