French Society for Affordable Housing [reverse]
![French Society for Affordable Housing [reverse] by Jules-Clément Chaplain](https://images.artheonmuseum.org/nga/thumb/french-society-for-affordable-housing-reverse-nga-131276.webp)
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 6.14 cm (2 7/16 in.)
Classification
Sculpture
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of Mark and Lynne Hammerschlag
Accession Number
2004.156.2.b
Art Historical Context
In 1891, master French medallist Jules-Clément Chap crafted this intricate bronze medal for the *Société Française des Habitations Bon Marché* ( Society for Affordable Housing), on its reverse side. Measuring just 6.14 cm in diameter, this petite sculpture exemplifies Chaplain's renown as a leading engraver of the Third Republic era, blending classical precision with emerging Art Nouveau sensibilities. His work often graced official commissions, capturing the era's blend of artistry and social purpose. The medal commemorates a pivotal philanthropic initiative founded in 1884 amid France's rap...
About the Artist
Jules-Clément Chaplain · 1839–1909
Jules-Clément Chaplain (1839–1909) was a French engraver and medallist who became the most celebrated practitioner of the art medal in late nineteenth-century France. Born in Mortagne-au-Perche in Normandy, he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Jouffroy and Oudiné and won the Prix de Rome for engraving in 1863, which enabled him to study in Italy for several years. Chaplain's work...