Emile Augier (1820-1889) 1884

This is Jean-Désiré Ringel d'Illzach's bronze plaquette of Emile Augier, though it’s undated, we can assume it was made around the time of Augier's death in 1889. It embodies the 19th-century French reverence for its cultural figures, here a playwright. The image creates meaning through the visual codes of academic portraiture, designed to convey status and accomplishment. Note the laurel wreath, a classical symbol of honor, which is framing Augier's name at the top. This piece reflects the institutional structures of the time; Augier was not only a celebrated playwright but also a member of the Académie Française, the ultimate arbiter of literary taste. The piece itself is an interesting artifact - was it commissioned by the Académie? Was it a private commission? To understand this plaquette better, we might delve into the archives of the Académie Française, studying the minutes of their meetings and the records of their commissions. The meaning of art lies not just in its aesthetic qualities, but in its intricate web of social and institutional connections.