Allegory of Public Health, Safety, and Welfare [reverse] c. 1713

Jean Mauger created this bronze medal, “Allegory of Public Health, Safety, and Welfare” in 1713. The medal reflects the societal values of early 18th-century France, during the reign of Louis XIV. The medal presents a vision of public welfare through the lens of classical allegory, a common artistic strategy during the Baroque period. Two female figures, likely representing Public Health and Safety, stand on either side of an altar. Justice, holding scales, floats above in the clouds. Note how each figure is draped in classical robes, yet also sexualized, with their breasts partially exposed. Such medals served as tools of political communication, conveying messages of power, prosperity, and stability. The medal’s emphasis on public health and safety can be seen as a reflection of the state's concern with social order and the well-being of its citizens, yet these concepts were largely defined by those in power, often excluding marginalized groups. The medal invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between power, representation, and social welfare in the past and present.