Louis XV (1710-1774) 1770

Curator: Here we have Giovanni Battista Nini's medallion, "Louis XV", enshrined at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's so clean, almost sterile, yet there's something deeply human about the profile's gentle curves. The materiality, perhaps? Curator: Indeed, the terra cotta lends a certain warmth, contrasting with the formality of the portrait. Note the inscription, "LOUIS XV PAR LA GRACE DE DIEU, ROY TRES CHRETIEN". Editor: It feels like a whispered secret—or a boast etched in clay. It’s interesting how such a small object holds so much power and presence. It’s like a portal into the past. Curator: Precisely. The careful composition and inscription contribute to its symbolic weight. Editor: I guess this little artwork will stay with me for a while. Curator: As it should.