The Peace of the Pyrenees [reverse]

Art Historical Context

Behold *The Peace of the Pyrene [reverse]*, a finely crafted bronze medal by Jean Warin, the esteemed French medallist and sculptor to King Louis XIV. Struck in 1660, this 5.3 cm diameter (weighing 60.15 grams) commemorates the 1659 treaty between France and Spain, which ended decades of conflict along the Pyrenees border. The obverse likely features royal portraits, while this reverse symbolizes the hard-won peace through allegorical imagery typical of the era's diplomatic art. Warin, a master of the Baroque medal tradition, employed intricate low-relief techniques in bronze casting to achieve remarkable detail and depth on such a small scale. Medals like this were prized collectibles, blending sculpture's tactility with numismatic precision, often serving as portable propaganda glorifying Louis XIV's early reign. The 12:00 axis orientation enhances its display symmetry, inviting close examination. Housed in the National Gallery of Art thanks to the gift of Lisa and Leonard Baskin, this work exemplifies 17th-century France's artistic celebration of political triumph. Visitors will appreciate its historical resonance—a tangible echo of Europe's shifting power dynamics.