Thomas Bohier, général des finances 1496, d. 1524 (o.s.)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite bronze medal, crafted in 1503 by the artist Giovanni Filangieri, honors Thomas Bohier, a French financier appointed *général des finances* 1496. Measuring just 62 mm in diameter, captures Bohier's profile in high relief, flanked by his coat of arms—a hallmark of Renaissance portrait medals that blended classical antiquity with contemporary portraiture. Produced during the Italian Renaissance, these small-scale sculptures served as portable emblems of status, much like coins for the elite, and were prized by collectors for their intricate detail and personal significance. Bohier, who died in 1524, rose to prominence under King Louis XII, overseeing royal finances and later contributing to the opulent Château de Chenonceau. Candida's medal, likely cast using the lost-wax technique common in Italian workshops, exemplifies the era's revival of Roman medallic art, emphasizing sharp profiles and heraldic motifs to convey power and lineage. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts department (acquired via the Ann and George Blumenthal Fund in 1950), it offers a glimpse into the cultural exchange between Italian artisans and French nobility at the dawn of the 16th century. Visitors will appreciate its tactile bronze surface, inviting close inspection to reveal the fine engraving that immortalizes a key figure in French Renaissance history.