Marie de' Medici, 1573-1642, Wife of King Henri IV of France 1600 [obverse]

0:00

metal, bronze, sculpture

portrait

medal

baroque

metal

sculpture

bronze

11_renaissance

sculpture

miniature

Dimensions: overall (height with suspension loop): 6.22 cm (2 7/16 in.) overall (diameter without loop): 5.31 cm (2 1/16 in.) gross weight: 44.22 gr (0.044 kg) axis: 12:00

This gilded medal of Marie de Medici, wife of King Henri IV of France, was crafted in 1600 by Guillaume Dupré, a period marked by the consolidation of power through strategic marriages and symbolic displays. The medal presents Marie in profile, adorned with jewels and elaborate lace. The detail underscores her status and wealth, yet it also speaks to the constraints placed upon women of power, whose identities were often subsumed by their roles as wives and mothers. The medal served not only as a personal emblem but as a political tool, reinforcing the Medici family's influence and Marie's role in securing the French monarchy's future. As we consider this object, let us reflect on the power dynamics it represents and the complex identities of those who shaped its creation and reception.