François II, King of France, King Consort of Scotland 1559 - 1660

This delicate portrait medallion of François II, King of France and King Consort of Scotland, was made by Etienne Delaune, sometime in the mid-16th century. The portrait is shaped by the conventions of royal representation. Here, the image is pressed in metal, a relatively cheap material, and the small scale allows for easy reproduction. Compare this to the monumental scale of oil paintings or marble sculptures which were more costly and time-consuming. We might ask: What is the relationship between the scale of the image, the material in which it is made, and its ability to act as propaganda? How might this affect the King's power? Numismatics, the study of currency, can help us to better understand the social and political role of royal portraiture in early modern France. It reminds us that even something as small as a coin can play a role in the history of power.