Marriage of Stephanie Napoleon to Charles Frederick Louis Prince of Baden
Medium
Gilt bronze, struck
Dimensions
Diameter: 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm)
Classification
Medals and Plaquettes
Culture
French
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Hon. Levi P. Morton, 1885
Accession Number
85.2.91
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In 1806, amid Napoleon Bonaparte's ambitious empire-building, this exquisite gilt bronze medal commemorates marriage of Stéphanie deharnais—Napoleon's adopted niece former ward—to Charles Frederick Louis, Hered Prince of Baden. Such unions were strategic diplomacy, forging alliances with German principalities and extending French influence across Europe. Struck at the Paris Mint, the small (1 5/8-inch diameter) plaquette captures a pivotal moment in Napoleonic family politics, blending personal milestone with imperial propaganda. Renowned engraver Bertrand Andrieu crafted the design, with oversight from Baron Dominique Vivant Denon, director of the Louvre and Napoleon's artistic advisor. The struck technique—similar to coin-making—allowed for precise, high-relief portraits and motifs, while the gilt bronze finish lent regal luster. As a plaquette, it exemplifies early 19th-century French medal art, prized for intimate scale and historical narrative. Today, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (gift of Hon. Levi P. Morton, 1885), this piece invites us to ponder how tiny objects preserved grand events, bridging personal romance and geopolitical maneuvering. A shimmering testament to an era's opulence and intrigue!
About the Artist
Bertrand Andrieu|Paris Mint|baron Dominique Vivant Denon · 1761–1822
French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris