Overlijden van Guillaume-Marie-Anne Brune

About this artwork

Gift of J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff

Art Historical Context

Behold the poignant *Overlijden van Guillaume-Marie-Anne Brune* (Death of Guillaume-Marie-Anne Brune), a struck medal crafted in 1815 by François Augustin Caunois. Measuring just 4.1 cm in diameter and weighing 38.56 grams, this intimate metalwork captures a tragic moment from the turbulent Napoleonic era. Donated by J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff, it exemplifies the era's tradition of commemorative medals, small yet powerful emblems of history struck from engraved dies onto metal blanks for sharp, durable relief. General Guillaume Brune, a loyal Napoleonic marshal, met a violent end on August 2, 1815, in Avignon—lynched by royalist crowds amid the Bourbon Restoration's backlash following Waterloo. Created mere months later, Caunois's medal immortalizes this assassination, reflecting the political passions and vendettas that defined post-Napoleonic France. Such pieces were avidly collected by enthusiasts, serving as portable memorials to heroes and martyrs. Caunois, a skilled medallist, employed the striking technique to achieve intricate details, likely portraying Brune's demise with dramatic realism typical of early 19th-century numismatic art. This artifact not only showcases fine metalworking but also invites reflection on the fragility of power in revolutionary times—a tiny treasure bridging art, history, and human drama.

About the Artist

François Augustin Caunois · 1787–1859

French, 1787–1859