French Eagles on the Volga
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
85.2.49
Art Historical Context
Crafted in 1812 amid Napoleon Bonaparte's ill-fated Russian campaign, *French Eagles on the Vol* is a exquisite gilt bronze medal that captures a moment of imperial ambition. The title evokes the French army's eagle standards—symbols of Napoleonic legions—reaching the Volga River, a strategic milestone during the invasion that saw French forces advance deep into Russian territory before the harsh winter retreat. Produced by the Paris Mint, this small struck medallion (just 1 5/8 inches in diameter) served as both propaganda and commemoration, celebrating perceived triumphs in a war that ultima...
About the Artist
Bertrand Andrieu|Auguste-François Michaut|Paris Mint|baron Dominique Vivant Denon · 1761–1822
French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris