Medallion 18th century

This is a small medallion by James Tassie, made in the late 18th century. At a time when society was highly stratified, portraiture became a way for the rising middle class to lay claim to status and permanence. The medallion depicts a young girl, likely a member of the bourgeoisie, her likeness captured in a neoclassical style. The girl’s fashionable bonnet and draped clothing speak to the values of representation and social identity that were emerging at the time. In the 18th century, childhood was idealized as a time of innocence, but also a period to be molded for adult roles. The girl's gaze is direct and confident, which suggests not only a desire for an accurate likeness, but also the representation of specific social and moral values. The choice of white glass paste for the medallion gives the portrait a sense of purity and timelessness, reflective of the era's aesthetic preferences. Tassie's medallion operates as both a personal memento and a social artifact, capturing a moment in the subject's life, while also telling us about the broader cultural values of 18th-century society.