2011.69.457.31.a
Passage of the Great St. Bernard
Artist
Bertrand Andrieu
(1761 - 1822)
Title
Passage of the Great St. Bernard
Creation Date
1800
Century
early 19th century
Dimensions
2 5/8 in. (6.67 cm)
Classification
Medals/Plaquettes
Creation Place
Europe, France
Medium and Support
lead-filled bronze cliché
Credit Line
Bequest of David P. Becker, Class of 1970
Copyright
This artwork may be under copyright. For further information, please consult the Museum’s
Copyright Terms and Conditions.
Accession Number
2011.69.457.31.a
Andrieu’s medal depicts Napoleon Bonaparte and the French Army’s passage through Great Saint Bernard in the Swiss Alps en route to their invasion of Italy in 1800. This scene is inspired by Jacques-Louis David’s famous painting, Napoleon Crossing the Alps, in which David focuses on Napoleon’s heroic strength as a leader. Similarly, Andrieu’s medal isolates Napoleon in front of the passage hurling lightning bolts to clear a path for his army. The brilliant general, a Zeus-like figure, takes on mythical proportions.
Object Description
Per Bowdoin Student Benjamn Wu (graduating class of 2018) (prior to this e-mail it was catalogued as an undated, bronze, untitled medal by an unknown artist):
From: Benjamin Wu
Date: Friday, January 26, 2018 at 3:56 PM
To: "Laura J. Latman"
Cc: Anne Goodyear , Stephen Pastoriza , Michelle Henning , Amber Orosco
Subject: David Becker medal identified (2011.69.457.31)
Hi Laura,
As mentioned earlier- was browsing through Mark Jones's Art of the Medal book that Anne had wanted Stephen and I to review and recognized an image on page 101 of a medal I recall examining in storage and thought I should identify this since it was untitled on kiosk:
http://artmuseum.bowdoin.edu/Obj22916?sid=27317&x=44515&sort=9
This medal is actually an important medal of young Napolean Bonaparte by Bertrand Andrieu and according to Jones, is one of the most circulated image of Napolean. More info below:
Title: Passage of the Great St. Bernard
Date: 1800*
Artist: Bertrand Andrieu
Medium: lead-filled bronze cliche
* Issued as part of a boxed set of uniface medals by Andrieu apparently around 1815. However, it appears that most databases record the date as 1800
Of note is that we do have two examples of its more famous companion medal: Siege of the Bastille (1978.21 and another that isn't on the kiosk but recall seeing in storage; one of these two is clearly of better quality than the other)
And also another medal from the set: Arrival of the King at Paris (1978.19)- this one is donated by "Mrs. John Rand" according to the kiosk and object file
References:
https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/items/57268
http://www.historicalartmedals.com/MEDAL%20WEB%20ENTRIES/FRANCE/NAPOLEONIC%20MEDALS/ANDRIEU-ST.%20BERNARD-BW396%20HIGH.htm
https://www.frick.org/exhibitions/scher/themes_french_revolution (#108)
Info on the boxed set:
http://www.historicalartmedals.com/MEDAL%20WEB%20ENTRIES/FRANCE/NAPOLEONIC%20MEDALS/ANDRIEU-BOXED%20SET-BW388%20HIGH.htm
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-cased-set-of-ten-circular-patinated-5714836-details.aspx
Best regards,
Ben
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