Medaille met portret van Manuel 1820 - 1840

Achille Collas created this portrait of Manuel in the form of a medal. The image captures a profile of a man, his gaze directed off to the right. In the 19th century, portraiture was deeply intertwined with social status and political identity. This portrait memorializes Manuel, likely a figure of significant standing, immortalizing his likeness through the artistic medium of a medal. Collas, active during a time of significant political upheaval in France, would have been influenced by the shifting power structures and ideologies of the time. The very act of creating a medal, traditionally associated with honoring individuals of high achievement or nobility, speaks to Manuel's perceived importance within his community. It invites us to consider how societies choose to remember and celebrate individuals and what values are being upheld in that process. Medals are about power, commemoration, and the stories a culture tells itself about who matters.