Guillaume Dupré, Bronze Medal For Marie De Medici

Marie de Médicis
Guillaume Dupré, 1624
Diam 10 cm

Uniface bronze medal, incuse reverse
Superb contemporary casting, perfectly legible signature
Jones II, No. 59

Obverse
The medal features a portrait of Marie de Médicis wearing a widow’s cap and an elaborate lace collar fastened with a rosette, from which a cross is suspended.
Inscription
Reversed legend: MARIA AVGVSTA GALLIAE ET NAVARAE REGINA
Translation: "Marie, August queen of France and Navarre."
signed and dated below the truncation: G DVPRE F 1624.

The inversion of the legend must be intentional since it also occurs on another medal of Marie de Medici. It is possible that it is intended to suggest that her titles, legible only in a mirror, are merely reflections of the glory of her son.

In April 1624, Louis XIII finally allowed Marie’s confident and adviser, Richelieu, into his Council, after a resistance lasting several years “afin que le monde sache que réellement, et non d’apparence, il (Louis XIII) veut vivre avec elle (Marie) sur le pied d’une entière confiance ». If the interpretation of the medal suggested above were correct, it would have been a graceful compliment from the Queen to her son at a time when she was confident that her power was in the ascendant.

Guillaume Dupré (1574–1643) was a renowned French sculptor and medalist, celebrated for his exceptional skill in creating detailed and expressive portraits on medals and sculptures. His work reflects the grandeur of the late Renaissance and early Baroque periods, combining technical mastery with an ability to capture the personality and status of his subjects.

Dupré’s oeuvre includes numerous portraits of prominent figures of his time, including royalty and nobility, such as Henry IV, Louis XIII, and Marie de Médicis. His medals, often marked by their intricate detailing and lifelike representations, were not only artistic achievements but also served as powerful symbols of political and social prestige.

Guillaume Dupré remains a pivotal figure in the history of medallic art, his works being highly valued for their artistic and historical significance.