Jules Méline 1887 - 1897

In 1892, François-Joseph-Hubert Ponscarme created this bronze medal in France dedicated to Jules Méline, a prominent politician. The medal embodies classical allegories, presenting Méline through the lens of idealized virtues, a common practice in honoring public figures. The imagery includes two female figures. One holds an olive branch, symbolizing peace, while the other rests her hand on a rudder, suggesting governance and direction. The wheel below symbolizes industry and progress, reflecting the socio-political climate of the time, marked by industrial expansion and colonial ambitions. The medal serves as a piece of political propaganda, associating Méline with the progress and stability France sought to project. To understand this medal fully, historians delve into archives and political records. Contextualizing it within France's Third Republic, its colonial policies, and Méline's specific contributions, shows that its cultural significance is not just aesthetic, but deeply embedded in the social and political fabric of its time.