Entry into Moscow, 1812
Medium
Gilt bronze, struck
Dimensions
Diameter: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 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
85.2.47
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Behold the exquisite *Entry into Moscow, 1812*, a gilt bronze medal struck by the Paris Mint in the 19th century. This petite treasure, just 1 5/8 inches (4.1 cm) in diameter, captures a pivotal moment in Napoleon's Russian campaign: his triumphant entry into the Kremlin on September 14, 1812. Though a short-lived victory—followed by the infamous retreat amid fire and frost—this scene immortalizes French imperial ambition during the Napoleonic Wars, reflecting national pride and the era's fervor for commemorative art. Crafted by a stellar trio—engraver Bertrand Andrieu, designer Nicholas Guy Antoine Brenet, and overseer Baron Dominique Vivant Denon—the medal exemplifies French neoclassical precision. The gilt bronze medium, with its struck relief, allowed for intricate details and a luxurious sheen, making it both a wearable emblem and a collector's gem. Such plaquettes were prized in 19th-century Europe for blending sculpture's depth with coin-like portability. A gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from Hon. Levi P. Morton in 1885, this piece from the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection invites us to ponder how tiny objects can encapsulate grand history. Visit and let its gleaming surface transport you to the drums of conquest!
About the Artist
Bertrand Andrieu|Nicholas Guy Antoine Brenet|baron Dominique Vivant Denon|Paris Mint · 1761–1822
French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris