Erection of the Church of Laeken, 1854 (Church of St. Mary, Notre Dame), in Memory of Queen Louise d'Orleans
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diameter: 2 7/8 in. (73 mm)
Classification
Medals and Plaquettes
Culture
Belgian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Florence N. Levy, 1926
Accession Number
26.194.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite bronze medal, crafted in 1854 by the Belgian father-son duo Jakob and Leopold Wiener,ates the erection of the Church of Our of Laeken (Notre de Laeken) in. Measuring just 2⅞ inches (73 mm) in diameter, it belongs to the refined tradition of 19th-century medals and plaquettes, small-scale sculptures prized for their intricate relief work and portability. The Wiens, masters of neoclassical medal-making, likely featured elegant profile portraits—evident from the tags noting women and profiles—capturing the solemnity of royal remembrance. The medal honors Queen Louise-Marie d'Orléa...
About the Artist
Jakob Wiener|Leopold Wiener (Belgian|Belgian) · 1815 |1823 –1899 |1891
Belgian, 1815–1899|Belgian, Venlo 1823–1891 Brussels