Claude-Joseph Vernet, 1714-1789, Painter [obverse] 1826

This bronze medal portraying Claude-Joseph Vernet was created by Louis Michel Petit, likely in the early 19th century. Vernet, a celebrated painter of marine landscapes, is depicted here in profile, his hair neatly tied back in the style of the era, facing towards the right, with the inscription "Né a Avignon", born in Avignon. This image offers a glimpse into the artistic and social milieu of 18th-century France, a world marked by the patronage of the arts, the rise of the Enlightenment, and the looming specter of revolution. Vernet’s success as an artist speaks to the opportunities afforded to those who navigated the complex networks of power and influence, yet his provincial origins remind us of the social hierarchies that shaped access to such opportunities. The choice of bronze, a material often associated with commemoration, elevates Vernet to the status of a cultural icon, a testament to the enduring legacy of artistic achievement. The medal invites us to consider the ways in which artists are remembered and the values that society chooses to immortalize.