In honor of M. Henriquel-Dupont, Engraver, etc. (1887) 1887

This bronze medal, commemorating the engraver Henriquel-Dupont, was created in 1887 by Jules-Clément Chaplain. Chaplain, a celebrated medalist, would have begun by sculpting the design in clay or wax. This model was then translated into a plaster cast, and finally, using a pantograph, its design was meticulously reduced onto a steel die. Striking the medal would have required considerable force, carefully controlled to capture the delicate relief. The two sides of the medal offer contrasting imagery: one, a classical allegorical figure, and the other, a portrait of Henriquel-Dupont himself, encircled by his name and title. The artistry lies not only in the design, but in the skilled manipulation of the metal itself. The medal’s tactile presence, its weight and sheen, speaks to the tradition of honoring individuals through meticulously crafted, enduring objects. It reminds us that even seemingly small-scale works can carry significant cultural weight, blurring the boundaries between art, craft, and commemoration.