Restauratie van de Bourbons op de Franse troon, ter ere van Lodewijk XVIII, koning van Frankrijk
1814
Medium
striking (metalworking)
Dimensions
62.69; 5
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
diameter 5 cm x weight 62.69 gr
Art Historical Context
This striking medal, created by French medallist Bertrand Andrieu in 1814, commemorates the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy to the French throne under Louis XVIII. Measuring just five centimeters in diameter and weighing 62.69 grams, the work captures a pivotal moment following Napoleon’s abdication, when European powers reinstated the Bourbon line after more than two decades of revolution and empire. The title itself frames the event as a celebration of stability and royal continuity. Andrieu’s choice of the struck-metal technique was especially fitting for such occasions. Medals like this were produced in quantity, allowing them to circulate widely as portable tokens of political allegiance. Their durable format preserved the imagery and inscriptions for generations, turning personal keepsakes into lasting historical records. Today the piece offers visitors a tangible connection to the complex transition from empire to monarchy. Its modest scale belies the weighty political message it carried in 1814, reminding us how art and metalworking together shaped public memory during one of France’s most turbulent restorations.
About the Artist
Bertrand Andrieu · 1761–1822
French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris