Marriage of Stephanie Napoleon to Charles Frederick Louis Prince of Baden
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
85.2.91
Art Historical Context
In 1806, amid Napoleon Bonaparte's ambitious empire-building, this exquisite gilt bronze medal commemorates marriage of Stéphanie deharnais—Napoleon's adopted niece former ward—to Charles Frederick Louis, Hered Prince of Baden. Such unions were strategic diplomacy, forging alliances with German principalities and extending French influence across Europe. Struck at the Paris Mint, the small (1 5/8-inch diameter) plaquette captures a pivotal moment in Napoleonic family politics, blending personal milestone with imperial propaganda. Renowned engraver Bertrand Andrieu crafted the design, with ove...
About the Artist
Bertrand Andrieu|Paris Mint|baron Dominique Vivant Denon · 1761–1822
French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris