Portrait of Mlle. Heuzey
Medium
Bronze, cast - single
Dimensions
Diameter: 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm)
Classification
Medals and Plaquettes
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Samuel P. Avery, 1893
Accession Number
93.10.41
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 19th century, artist Jules-Clément Chaplainized the art of medallic sculpture, earning acclaim as one of the era's finest engravers. His *Portrait of Mlle.uzey* (1889), a delicate bronze plaquette measuring just 3 7/8 inches in, exemplifies his mastery. This intimate portrait captures the poised elegance of a young woman, likely a contemporary figure of Parisian society during the Belle Époque, with Chaplain's signature realism and exquisite detail in the facial features, hair, and subtle drapery. Crafted as a single bronze cast, the work highlights the technical precision of meda...
About the Artist
Jules-Clément Chaplain · 1839–1909
Jules-Clément Chaplain (1839–1909) was a French engraver and medallist who became the most celebrated practitioner of the art medal in late nineteenth-century France. Born in Mortagne-au-Perche in Normandy, he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Jouffroy and Oudiné and won the Prix de Rome for engraving in 1863, which enabled him to study in Italy for several years. Chaplain's work...