Medal
17th–18th century
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 3 1/8 x 3 1/8 in. (8 x 8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Phyllis Massar, 2011
Accession Number
2012.136.206
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite engraving by Gérard Edelinck captures the refined elegance of portraiture in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Working primarily in France after training in Antwerp, Edelinck was celebrated for his masterful command of the burin, creating precise lines that convey both likeness and texture. The small, square format—measuring just over three inches—suggests an intimate object meant for close viewing, perhaps as a study or reproduction of a commemorative medal. The composition focuses on a male profile, a format long associated with ancient coins and Renaissance medals that...