Design for a Token: Galères, 1740

About this artwork

Edme Bouchardon's *Design for a Token:ères, 1740*, captures the elegance of French Rococo draftsmanship in a preparatory sketch for a ceremonial token, or *jeton*. Created during the reign of Louis XV, these tokens were often used in administrative or commemorative contexts, here featuring *galères*—sleek galley ships symbolizing naval prowess and France's maritime ambitions. Bouchardon, a leading sculptor and engraver celebrated for monumental works like the Fontaine desatre Saisons in Paris, brought his mastery of form to this intimate design, blending historical symbolism with refined artistry. Executed in red chalk—a favored medium for its warm tones and subtle modeling—Bouchardon surrounded the central motif with a soft red chalk wash, enhancing depth and atmosphere. This nearly square sheet (8 3/8 x 8 7/16 in.) exemplifies 18th-century preparatory drawing techniques, where fluid lines and tonal washes bridged the gap between concept and final metalwork. The precision reflects Bouchardon's training at the Académie Royale and his Prix de Rome sojourn in Italy, infusing classical poise into Rococo whimsy. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (acquired via Rogers Fund, 1961), this work offers a window into the collaborative world of royal patronage, where artists like Bouchardon designed emblems of power for everyday institutional use. A delightful glimpse of Enlightenment-era ingenuity!