Ten-Headed Monster Preying on Two Nude Bodies [reverse]

Art Historical Context

Behold the striking reverse of a silver medal crafted by French medallist Pierre Aury in 1672: *Ten-Headed Monster Preying on Two Nude Bodies*. Measuring just 7.27 cm in diameter and weighing 113.46 grams, this intimate sculpture exemplifies the exquisite medal-making tradition of Louis XIV's France, where such luxury objects served as portable art for collectors, commemorating events or exploring mythic themes. Aury's design captures a nightmarish Baroque fantasy—a multi-headed beast devouring two nude figures in a whirl of dynamic tension. The ten heads evoke classical monsters like the Hydra, symbolizing chaos or vice triumphing over humanity, a motif resonant in 17th-century allegory amid France's grand artistic era. Rendered in high relief on silver, the piece showcases Aury's mastery of chasing and engraving techniques, achieving lifelike ferocity within a tiny medallion format (axis at 12:00 for perfect orientation). Now at the National Gallery of Art through the generous gift of Lisa and Leonard Baskin (Department of CSD), this rare work highlights medals as miniature sculptures, blending technical virtuosity with provocative imagery for an era obsessed with spectacle and the grotesque. A chilling reminder of art's power to confront our darkest myths!