Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Sarah Cooper Hewitt
Accession Number
1907-17-90
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Crafted in 1818 by French Louis Michel Petit (1790–1844), this medal is a delicate example of metalwork from the early 19th century. Petit worked during France's Bourbon Restoration, a time when finely detailed medals served as portable emblems of prestige, commemoration, or portraiture. Though the specific medium and subject remain under research, such pieces highlight the era's blend of neoclassical precision and emerging Romantic influences, often requiring expert engraving and striking techniques to achieve their intricate reliefs. Medals like this were prized for their dual role as art o...