Coin Depicting Louis XIII, King of France
1629
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 4.2 cm (1 5/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
5785
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver coin, minted in France in 1629, bears the portrait of Louis XIII, who ruled from 1610 to 1643. Measuring just over four centimeters in diameter, the piece served both as everyday currency and a portable emblem of royal authority during a period of political consolidation and religious conflict in Europe. Its classification among the Art Institute of Chicago’s European paintings and sculpture underscores how numismatic objects functioned as miniature works of art, blending craftsmanship with state messaging. Silver was deliberately chosen for its durability and luster, allo...
About the Artist
French
Georges Hugnet (1906–1974) was a multifaceted French artist, poet, writer, and critic whose innovative collages and graphic works bridged Dada and Surrealism. Born in Paris on July 11, 1906, he spent much of his early childhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, returning to France around 1913. His early life and artistic training remain sparsely documented, with no records of formal art school attendanc...