Jean Louis Ernest Meissonnier (1815–1891), French Painter 1889

This bronze medal, created by Jules-Clément Chaplain in 1889, depicts a portrait of French painter Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier in profile. The medal, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to Meissonier's artistic achievements. The inscription on the medal reads "Ernest Meissonier, Aetatis Sve LXXV, M. De L'Institut," signifying Meissonier's status as a member of the prestigious French Academy of Fine Arts at the age of 75. Chaplain's detailed and realistic depiction of Meissonier's features captures the artist's likeness and reflects the high regard he held in the French art world. This medal is a historical artifact, a bronze portrait of a celebrated figure, and a fine example of the work of Chaplain.