Medal of the Marquis de Lafayette 1830

This is a medal of the Marquis de Lafayette made by Joseph Arnold Pingret. Note the dates 1789 and 1830 inscribed. These years mark significant moments of revolution and upheaval, the first, the beginning of the French Revolution, and the second, another wave of revolutionary movements across Europe. The profile portrait, a classical motif harking back to ancient Roman coins, presents Lafayette as a stoic, heroic figure. But this isn't just about commemorating an individual. The medal serves as a powerful talisman, connecting Lafayette's image with the fervor of revolutionary ideals. Consider how portraiture, from ancient rulers to modern leaders, serves to immortalize and mythologize figures, tapping into our collective memory. The persistence of such imagery reveals our deep-seated psychological need for heroes and symbols of hope, endlessly revived throughout history.