Louis XIII, 1601-1643, King of France 1610 [obverse] 1610

This is a bronze medal of Louis XIII, King of France, created by Guillaume Dupré, a little after Louis ascended the throne in 1610. Dupré, as one of the most prominent medalists of his time, crafted this portrait of the young king during a period marked by religious conflict and courtly intrigue. It's impossible to ignore the heavy weight of expectation on young Louis, who inherited the crown following his father's assassination. We see him here in profile, adorned with a laurel wreath, a symbol of victory and authority, yet his youthful features hint at the complex power dynamics he navigated. The medal performs and perpetuates ideas of royal identity and power, but it also embodies the personal dimension of a boy turned king, caught in the currents of history. It reflects a society grappling with questions of leadership, legacy, and the very nature of kingship, inviting us to reflect on the burdens of power and the individuals who bear them.