The Anointment of Charles X

Art Historical Context

This striking bronze medal, created by French artist Raymond Gayrard in 1825, commemorates the anointing of Charles X during his coronation at Reims Cathedral. Measuring just 2 3/4 inches in diameter, the work exemplifies the tradition of struck medals used to mark significant royal and political events. Its profile portraits reflect the classical style favored in early 19th-century France, evoking ancient Roman coinage while celebrating contemporary monarchy. Issued during the Bourbon Restoration, the medal captures a moment of renewed royal tradition after the upheavals of the French Revolution and Napoleonic era. Charles X’s coronation revived ancient anointing rites not performed since 1775, symbolizing continuity with France’s pre-revolutionary past. Such portable bronze pieces allowed the imagery of the event to reach a broader audience beyond those present at the ceremony. Gayrard’s design highlights the medal’s role as both historical record and artistic object. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, it demonstrates how small-scale works preserved cultural memory and conveyed political messages through elegant, durable form.

About the Artist

Raymond Gayrard · 1777–1858

French, Rodez 1777–1858 Paris