UNESCO aftercast of Gerard Leonard Herard's 1673 medal, reissue 2002

Abstract

General Description: The obverse contains a modern aftercast. The medal celebrates Michelangelo's excellence in the three major classifications of the visual arts. This theme would be repeated in many subsequent medals. The Roman numerals MDCLXXIII refer to the founding of the Paris Salon in 1673. The reissue of the medal, here, was offered by UNESCO in 2002 as a complement to the Leone Leoni reissue of 1974. The two reissues are valuable as reproductions of the earliest medals featuring Michelangelo and his continuing legacy.

Obverse Description: The medal's obverse features the right side profile of Michelangelo and the inscription "M ANGELVS BONAROTVS PATRITIVS FLORENTINVS" (Michelangelo Buonarroti, Florentine Patrician). The reverse also carries the medalist's name, "HERARD."

Reverse Description: The reverse bears the legend "FAELICITER IVNXIT" (united in happiness) and features a torso surrounded by the attributes of painting, sculpture, and architecture within a landscape setting. The medal thus celebrates Michelangelo's excellence in the three major classifications of the visual arts. This theme is repeated in many subsequent medals. The Roman numerals "MDCLXXIII" refer to the founding of the Paris Salon in 1673.

Historical Context:

Artist Biography: The original version of this medal was created by Gérard Léonard Hérard (1630/37-1675), who was born in Liege (present day Belgium) and worked predominantly in France. Hérard became a member of the French Royal Academy in 1670. He produced various commissions for Louis XIV and worked with his compatriot Jean Warin (or Varin), who greatly influenced his style. For a time Hérard worked at the Paris mint making medals, and jetons for the city of Paris. He also is known to have designed medals of Leonardo da Vinci, Louis XV, and Lambert de Liverlo, Bishop of Liege, all between 1669-1673. Hérard died young, at around 38 years of age.

Bibliography: Jones, Mark, A Catalogue of the French Medals in the British Museum, Vol. 2 1600-1672, British Museum Publications Ltd., London, 1988, cat. 284-285. Flaten, cat. 231