Design for a jeton or a token: Maison de la Reine 1740

Art Historical Context

Edme Bouchardon, leading French sculptor of the 18th century known for his graceful neoclassical style infused with Rococo elegance, crafted this preparatory drawing in 1740 Titled *Design for a Jeton or a Token: Maison de la Reine 1740*, it served as a blueprint for a commemorative token honoring the "Queen's House"—likely a reference to a royal residence or event during the reign of Louis XV and Queen Marie Leszczyńska. Bouchardon's designs often blended classical motifs with contemporary French grandeur, making this piece a window into Versailles-era opulence. Executed in red chalk with a subtle red chalk wash framing the central design, the drawing measures a compact 8 3/8 x 8 7/16 inches. This sanguine medium allowed for soft, fluid lines and tonal depth, ideal for sketching intricate details like the tagged elements of women, horses, and chariots—evoking triumphant allegories of royalty or victory. Such preparatory works highlight the meticulous process behind medal and token production, where precision ensured elegant engravings. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via Rogers Fund, 1961), this artifact reveals Bouchardon's versatility beyond sculpture, bridging art and numismatics. It captures a moment of royal celebration, inviting us to imagine the tokens circulating as symbols of prestige in 1740s France.

About the Artist

Edme Bouchardon · 1698–1762

Born 29 May 1698; died 27 July 1762. Bouchardon was a student of Guillaume Coustou, and won the prix de Rome in 1722. He spent ten years (1722-1732) in Rome, Italy working on various projects for Pope Clement XII. In 1732 Bouchardon was recalled to Paris and named sculptor to the king. Bouchardon became a professor at the Académie Royale in 1746. He worked on an equestrian monument of Louis XV, Ki...