Portrait of Madame de Faugnes, dame de Thauvenay
second half 18th century (before 1786)
Medium
Medallion: cast terracotta (terre de Chaumont); frame: gilt wood
Dimensions
Diameter: 6 1/4 in. (15.9 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Miniature
Culture
French, Chaumont-sur-Loire
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of James Hazen Hyde, 1949
Accession Number
49.20.12
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant medallion captures the refined likeness of Madame de Faugnes, dame de Thauvenay, in a delicate profile view. Created by Jean-Baptiste Nini in the second half of the eighteenth century, the work exemplifies the intimate portrait tradition that flourished in pre-Revolutionary France. Cast in terracotta sourced from the Chaumont region—known as “terre de Chaumont”—the piece measures just over six inches in diameter, making it both portable and personal. Nini specialized in such miniature sculptures, which offered an affordable yet sophisticated alternative to painted portraits or ca...
About the Artist
Jean-Baptiste Nini · 1717–1786
Jean-Baptiste Nini, born Giovanni Battista Nini in Urbino, Italy, in March 1717, emerged as a versatile sculptor and medallist whose career bridged the vibrant artistic scenes of Italy, Spain, and France. The son of a modest painter, Nini received his initial training from his father in the rudiments of engraving. He honed these skills in Bologna, where he simultaneously studied sculpture at the A...