Oprichting van driehonderd nieuwe kerken in Frankrijk 1686 1686

This bronze medal commemorating the founding of three hundred new churches in France was struck in 1686 by Jean Mauger. Bronze medals like this are a prime example of how an object’s material and production process imbue it with cultural significance. Consider the process: molten bronze, poured into a mold carved with intricate details, would have required the touch of a highly skilled artisan. The sharp, crisp lines and the delicate relief of Louis XIV’s portrait speak to Mauger’s mastery. On the reverse, the allegorical figure of Religion, complete with scales and spear, is set against the backdrop of classical architecture. It represents the French state’s official endorsement of Catholicism. The choice of bronze as a medium is also telling. A durable material with a sense of permanence, bronze lends gravitas to the message. But by focusing on the medal's production and the materials used, we can see beyond the propaganda to understand the interplay of power, artistry, and religious fervor in 17th-century France.