Henri IV, 1553-1610, King of France 1589 [obverse] 1598

This is a gold medal portraying Henri IV, King of France, created by Conrad Bloc around the turn of the 17th century. Henri IV’s reign followed decades of religious conflict, and he is remembered as a figure who brought a measure of peace to a deeply divided society. Consider the power dynamics inherent in portraiture, particularly of royalty. This medal operates as a form of propaganda, carefully constructing an image of Henri IV as a strong, legitimate ruler. Note the classical profile, reminiscent of Roman emperors, and the inscription declaring him King of France and Navarre. Yet, portrait medals were also personal objects, often worn or exchanged as gifts. In some ways this medal attempts to transcend the complexities of Henri IV’s identity - a Huguenot king who converted to Catholicism to secure his rule, famously declaring that "Paris is worth a mass." It invites us to consider the relationship between public image and private self, and the ways in which identity is shaped by political necessity. This medal encapsulates the tension between the desire for stability and the messy realities of religious and political conflict.