Overwinning bij Friedland

About this artwork

Bronzen penning. Voorzijde: borststuk man met lauwerkrans binnen omschrift. Keerzijde: Napoleon, voorgesteld als antieke Griekse krijger staat temidden van gevallen soldaten en steekt zijn zwaard terug in de schede; links een omgekeerde, bijna gedoofde fakkel, rechts een olijftak; afsnede: opschrift

Art Historical Context

This bronze medal, struck in 1807 by French medallist Bertrand Andrieu, commemorates Napoleon’s decisive victory at the Battle of Friedland. Measuring just four centimeters across, the piece exemplifies the neoclassical style favored during the Napoleonic era, when ancient Greek and Roman imagery was employed to elevate contemporary military triumphs to the level of timeless heroism. On the reverse, Napoleon appears as a Greek warrior sheathing his sword amid fallen foes. An overturned torch on the left suggests the dying flames of conflict, while an olive branch on the right signals the peace that followed. The obverse bears a laurel-wreathed portrait within an inscription, a conventional motif linking the emperor to classical ideals of leadership and glory. Such medals served both as portable propaganda and valued souvenirs, allowing citizens to carry reminders of French military success. Andrieu’s precise striking technique and symbolic restraint capture the brief moment when victory at Friedland paved the way for the Treaty of Tilsit and a temporary reshaping of Europe.

About the Artist

Bertrand Andrieu · 1761–1822

French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris