Madeleine de Créquy, Maréchale de Villeroy 1651

This 1651 bronze medal by Claude Varin, who lived from 1630-1654, depicts Madeleine de Créquy, Maréchale de Villeroy, in profile. The medal, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a small, circular work, only 4 1/16 inches in diameter. The inscription around the rim describes the subject. French artist Claude Varin was known for his skillful medal making, and this example is a testament to his talent. The medal would have been seen as a commemorative work, celebrating the life of the noble woman.