Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, 1757-1834, Marquis de Lafayette, General and Statesman

Art Historical Context

This exquisite bronze medallion, measuring just 4¾ inches in diameter, captures the noble visage of Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, the de Lafayette (17571834), a pivotal in both the American and French Revolutions. Crafted in 1830 by renowned French sculptor Pierre-Jean David'Angers, it Lafayette as a general and statesman whose idealism bridged transatlantic struggles for liberty. The intimate scale and 187.5-gram weight make it a portable token of admiration, ideal for collectors or revolutionaries alike. David d'Angers, a master of Romantic sculpture, excelled in portrait medallions like this one, blending classical precision with expressive realism. Cast in bronze—a durable medium evoking antiquity—he likely employed the lost-wax technique for fine details in Lafayette's determined gaze and flowing hair, infusing the profile with heroic vitality. These medallions were a hallmark of his oeuvre, democratizing portraiture beyond grand monuments. Created amid France's July Revolution, where Lafayette briefly led the National Guard, this piece symbolizes enduring Enlightenment values. Now a gift from Lisa and Leonard Baskin at the National Gallery of Art, it invites visitors to reflect on one man's global legacy of freedom.

About the Artist

Pierre-Jean David d'Angers (French) · 1788 –1856

French, Angers 1788–1856 Paris