Heur et Malheur (Happiness and Woe)
early 19th century
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Sarah Cooper Hewitt
Accession Number
1907-17-141
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Raymond Gayrard's "Heur et Malheur (Happiness and Woe)" offers a compelling meditation on life's dualities through the medium of metalwork Created in the early th century by the artist (1777–8), the piece served as a medal,, or decorative object, where the durable qualities of metal allowed for intricate detailing and lasting symbolic resonance. The title points to an allegorical exploration of joy and sorrow, a theme that would have felt especially relevant amid the social upheavals following the French Revolution and Napoleonic era. As part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collectio...