Design for the Medal to Commemorate the Charter of 1830

Art Historical Context

Henri-Baron de Triquet’s *Design for the Medal tomemorate the Charter of1830* captures a pivotal moment in French history through a delicate black chalk drawing on a modest 7 9/16 × 7 3/4 in. sheet. Created in 1830, this preparatory sketch from the Metropolitan Museum of Art Drawings and Prints department showcases Triqueti’s skill as a sculptor and designer, known for his neoclassical precision and romantic flair in medals and monuments. The artwork honors the Charter of 1830, a constitutional document issued by King Louis-Philippe I following the July Revolution. This "bourgeois" charter replaced the more absolutist version of 1814, expanding electoral rights, affirming national sovereignty, and marking the start of the July Monarchy—a liberal shift from Restoration rule amid revolutionary fervor. Rendered in black chalk, a versatile medium favored for its soft, expressive lines, the design likely incorporates symbolic birds—evident from its tags—perhaps evoking liberty or imperial motifs common in French commemorative art. This intimate study reveals the artist’s thoughtful process, blending historical gravitas with technical finesse, inviting us to ponder how such sketches birthed enduring symbols of political change.