Dood van Rene Descartes
Jean Dassier
1740
Medium
striking (metalworking)
Dimensions
2.8; 8.94
About this artwork
Schenking van mevrouw J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff
Art Historical Context
**Dood van Rene Descartes** (Death of René Descartes), crafted by Swiss medalist Jean Dassier in1740, is a struck medal honoring the influential philosopher René Descartes, who died in 1650. Dassier, part of a renowned Geneva family of engravers known for their portrait medals of eminent figures, captures this somber moment in a compact bronze disc measuring just 2.8 cm in diameter and weighing 894 grams. Such medals were prized in the 18th century as portable tributes to intellectual giants, blending artistry with historical commemoration. The "striking" technique—pressing a detailed die int...