Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in the Garden of the Tuileries. 1806.

Art Historical Context

This exquisite gilt bronze medal, struck in 1806 at the Paris Mint, captures the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel shortly after its completion in the Tuileries Garden. Designed under the direction of Dominique Vivant Denon with from medalists Bertrand Andrieu and Nicholas Guy Antoine Brenet, the small-scale work (just over an inch and a half in diameter) commemorates one of Napoleon’s earliest architectural triumphs. The arch, modeled after ancient Roman monuments, celebrated the Emperor’s victories in the War of the Third Coalition and served as a grand entrance to the imperial palace. Struck medals like this one played a vital role in Napoleonic France as portable instruments of propaganda and national pride. Their precise, raised relief allowed intricate architectural details to be reproduced in quantity, enabling citizens and dignitaries to carry of imperial glory. The warm glow of the gilt bronze further enhanced the sense of prestige, transforming a modest object into a miniature monument. Today, this piece in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection offers visitors an intimate connection to the era’s blend of classical revival and political messaging, reminding us how art and architecture together shaped public memory during the First Empire.

About the Artist

Bertrand Andrieu|Nicholas Guy Antoine Brenet|baron Dominique Vivant Denon|Paris Mint · 1761–1822

French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris