Commemoration of Marie-Antoinette: Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette [obverse]

1793

Conrad Heinrich Küchler

Associated Names
Conrad Heinrich Küchler

Medalist, German, active 1763 - 1821

The image features a round medal displaying high-relief portraits of two historical figures in profile. The medal showcases the heads and upper torsos of a man and a woman, with intricate hairstyles typical of the period. The man is positioned in front of the woman. Both figures have finely sculpted hair and facial features, and the medal is composed of bronze, giving it a brown color. There are inscriptions surrounding the portraits and beneath the figures. The medal has a smooth, round shape and a polished surface that reflects light.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Lisa and Leonard Baskin

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 4.8 cm (1 7/8 in.)
    gross weight: 44.18 gr (0.097 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1997.114.18.a

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a circular medal featuring a detailed relief scene. The primary subject of the relief is a historical depiction of a procession, where a horse-drawn cart carrying a figure is surrounded by a crowd of people, with some individuals holding flags. In the background, two classical-style buildings are visible, and a large group of figures can be seen in a disciplined formation. Above the scene, the words "ALTERA VENIT VICTIMA" are inscribed around the outer edge. Below the relief scene, within a separate section, the date "XVI. OCT. MDCCXCIII" is engraved. The sculpture is crafted from a material with a bronze or copper-like color, giving it a warm, metallic appearance. The medal's detailed engraving and historical motifs suggest it is a commemorative piece, viewed as an artifact representing a past event.

Queen Marie-Antoinette Led to the Guillotine [reverse]

Conrad Heinrich Küchler

1793

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Lisa and Leonard Baskin, Leeds, Massachusetts; gift 1997 to NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 2:no. 931, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: LUD.XVI D:G.FR.ET NAV.REX.MAR.ANT.AUSTR.REG.; on truncation: C.H.K; below truncation: FATI INIQUI (of adverse fate ?)

Wikidata ID

Q63861695

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