Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) 1907

Curator: Here we have a bronze portrait medal of Charles William Eliot, President of Harvard University, created by Léon Deschamps. Editor: It's small, almost intimate. The patina gives it a sense of age, a gravitas. Does it capture Eliot, or an idea of him? Curator: Deschamps was a celebrated French medalist, and these portrait medals were often commissioned by institutions to commemorate important figures. Eliot's long tenure certainly qualified. Editor: There's a formality to the profile, but the soft modeling keeps it from feeling too severe. He looks... contemplative, maybe a little weary? Curator: Medals like this circulated amongst the academic community, solidifying Eliot’s legacy and Harvard's prestige. Editor: It's like holding a piece of history in your hand – a tangible representation of power and influence, filtered through an artist’s vision. Curator: Indeed, a fusion of art, history and institutional power. Editor: It certainly makes you consider what we choose to immortalize.