Geboorte van Napoleon Frans Karel Jozef, zoon van Napoleon I Bonaparte en Marie Louise, keizer en keizerin der Fransen
1811
Medium
striking (metalworking)
Dimensions
4.1; 39.46
About this artwork
Gift of J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff
Art Historical Context
This commemorative medal, created by French medallist Bertrand Andrieu in 1811, marks the birth of Napoleon François Charles Joseph Bonaparte, the only son of Emperor Napoleon I and Empress Marie Louise. Measuring just 4.1 centimeters in diameter and weighing 39.46 grams, the work was produced through striking, a precise metalworking technique in which designs are impressed into metal using engraved dies. Such medals served as portable records of imperial events, blending sculpture and currency traditions. The birth of this heir, often called the King of Rome, represented a pivotal moment for...
About the Artist
Bertrand Andrieu · 1761–1822
French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris