Compagnie Generale du Magasinage Public te Parijs, ter ere van Lodewijk Filips, koning der Fransen 1839

This silver medal, made by Pierre Hubert Desnoyers, commemorates Louis-Philippe, King of the French. The medal presents an interesting case study in the construction of power and identity during a tumultuous period in French history. Louis-Philippe ascended to the throne following the July Revolution of 1830, a time of social upheaval and shifting political ideologies. This medal, created in that same year, speaks to the ways in which the new regime sought to legitimize itself. Consider how the medal attempts to portray Louis-Philippe, not as an absolute monarch, but as a figure of commerce and industry, reflecting the values of the rising bourgeoisie. What does it mean to cast a king in such a light? How does this object function in shaping the narrative around French identity and leadership, and what lasting impact did it have on society?