Penning met drie bustes 1702

This is Gérard Edelinck's "Penning met drie bustes," a medal created sometime in the late 17th century. As a Dutch Golden Age engraver active in France, Edelinck became known for his portraits of the French elite and aristocracy. This medal encapsulates the intricate dance between power, lineage, and the construction of identity in the French court. At its center, we see three busts, all presumably members of a noble family. The work speaks to the era's obsession with dynastic legacy and the perpetuation of power through bloodlines. The inscription "Aeternitas Imperii Gallici" translates to "The Eternity of the French Empire," underscoring the ambition to immortalize French rule and its leaders. However, this image is not just about celebrating power; it also offers a glimpse into the social structures that defined the era. Gender, class, and nobility are subtly communicated through the attire and arrangement of the figures. By immortalizing these figures in metal, Edelinck has created a narrative which reinforces their social status and historical importance, while hinting at the many untold stories that existed on the margins of the French court.