To commemorate the founding of the National School of Industrial Arts at Roubaix, 1890
Medium
Bronze, silvered, both clichés
Dimensions
Diameter: 2 11/16 in. (6.8 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
93.10.62a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
Crafted in 1890 by the esteemed French sculptor and engraver Jules-Clémentlain, this silvered bronze medal commemorates founding of the National School Industrial Arts in Roubaix a textile hub in northern France. just 2 11/16 inches (6.8 cm) in diameter, it belongs to the intimate world of medals and plaquettes—small-scale sculptures that blend fine artistry with commemorative purpose. Chaplain a master of medallic art in the late 19th century, precise striking techniques from engraved dies (clichés) on both sides, showcasing his skill in capturing intricate details on a miniature canvas. The...
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...