Confederation of the Rhine. 1806.
Medium
Gilt bronze, struck
Dimensions
Diameter: 1 9/16 in. (4 cm)
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
85.2.94
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Behold the exquisite *Confederation of the Rhine 1806*, a gilt bronze medal struck by the Paris Mint, measuring just 1 9/16 inches (4 cm) in diameter This petite yet powerful plaquette commemorates a pivotal moment in Napoleonic Europe: the formation of the Confederation of Rhine on July 12, 1806. under French protection, it united 16 German states, dissolving the Holy Roman Empire and reshaping the political map of Central Europe as Napoleon consolidated his influence against Austria and Prussia. Crafted by a stellar trio—medalist Bertrand Andrieu, engraver Nicholas Guy Antoine Brenet, and Baron Dominique Vivant Denon, Napoleon's influential director of museums—this piece exemplifies the neoclassical precision of early 19th-century French medal-making. The struck technique, involving high-pressure dies, yields intricate details and a lustrous gilt finish, blending propaganda with artistry to glorify imperial ambition. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department since 1885, thanks to a gift from Hon. Levi P. Morton, this medal offers a tangible glimpse into the era's diplomatic triumphs and the Mint's role as a hub of state-sponsored excellence. A tiny testament to grand history!
About the Artist
Bertrand Andrieu|Nicholas Guy Antoine Brenet|baron Dominique Vivant Denon|Paris Mint · 1761–1822
French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris