Anne of Austria (1601–1666; Queen Consort of France 1615–43, Queen Regent of France 1643–51) and Louis XIV, King of France (b. 1638; r. 1643–1715)
Loan
Jean Warin
(French, 1606–1672)
Datedated 1638, made 1645
MediumCopper alloy, cast
DimensionsDiam.: 3 13/16 in. (9.75 cm)
Credit LineDr. Stephen K. and Janie Woo Scher Collection
Accession numberSCHER.2014.15.59
CommentaryOn September 5, 1638, after more than twenty years of marriage to Louis XIII without producing an heir, Anne of Austria gave birth to the future Louis XIV. This medal was made to commemorate the laying of the foundation stone of the Benedictine church of Val-de-Grâce on April 1, 1645, in fulfillment of the queen's vow to build a church and convent if she had a son. The reverse of the medal provides the only record of the original plan made by Mansart for the facade of the church. An example in gold was placed in the foundation.
Source: Scher, Stephen K., et al. The Scher Collection of Commemorative Medals. New York and London, 2019.
Guillaume Dupré
dated 1620
Jean Warin
dated 1662
After Guillaume Martin
ca. 1574