Nicolas de Bailleul, 1587-1652, Mayor of Paris 1622-1628 [obverse] 1623

This bronze medal depicting Nicolas de Bailleul, Mayor of Paris, was made in 1623 by an anonymous artist. The process of creating a medal like this begins with a design, carefully incised into a mold. Molten bronze is poured into it, cooled, and then the medal is struck – a method involving hammering the metal to sharpen the details of the image. This is not ‘high art’ in the traditional sense; it involves metalworking and a degree of repetition. Yet the artistry is evident in the sharp, precise relief of Bailleul’s profile, the texture of his hair and beard, and the inscription along the edge. The medal's material and mode of production speak volumes. Bronze is durable, meant to last, and here it commemorates civic power. The labor involved in the design and metalworking reflects a skilled tradition, bridging fine art and craft. This medal invites us to consider how such objects, often overlooked, reflect broader social structures and values.