In Honor of Henri Bouley, President of the Academy of Sciences, 1884–85 1885

Louis-Oscar Roty created this bronze medal, "In Honor of Henri Bouley, President of the Academy of Sciences, 1884–85." The medal presents a study in form, where the linear inscription creates a perimeter, framing the central portrait of Henri Bouley. Note how Roty uses a profile view, a classic form, yet he disrupts its traditional stoicism with a dynamic interplay of light and shadow that models Bouley’s features. This creates an almost palpable texture, evoking the materiality of the bronze itself. The carefully arranged lettering, evenly spaced, functions not just as text but as a compositional element, anchoring the portrait within its circular boundary. Roty's approach reflects a broader artistic trend of the late 19th century, where traditional forms were re-examined through the lens of realism and scientific observation. The medal, in honoring a president of the Academy of Sciences, becomes a semiotic marker, celebrating the fusion of art and science. Ultimately, Roty's medal exists as a testament to an era grappling with new ways of thinking about knowledge, representation, and the enduring power of form.