The Founding of the Orphanage of the Legion of Honor

Art Historical Context

Nestled among the treasures of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European and Decorative Arts collection, *The Founding of the Orphanage of the Legion of* (1810) is a gilt bronze medal, just 1 5/8 inches in diameter. Crafted by a stellar team of French talents—engravers Bertrand Andrieu and Alexis Joseph Depaulis, under the artistic direction of Baron Dominique Vivanton, and struck at the Paris Mint—this plaquette commemorates a poignant Napoleonic initiative. Created during Napoleon Bonaparte's empire, the medal honors the establishment of an orphanage for children of Legion of Honor members, those valiant soldiers and civilians decorated for service since the order's founding in 1802. It reflects the era's blend of military glory and social welfare, showcasing how the regime used art to propagate ideals of loyalty and legacy amid the Napoleonic Wars. The struck gilt bronze technique—where molten bronze is poured, engraved, and gilded for a luminous finish—highlights the precision of early 19th-century medal-making, a medium prized for its portability and propagandistic power. Gifted to the Met in 1885 by U.S. Vice President Levi P. Morton, this tiny artwork invites us to ponder the human stories behind imperial pomp.

About the Artist

Bertrand Andrieu|Alexis Joseph Depaulis|baron Dominique Vivant Denon|Paris Mint · 1761–1822

French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris