Napoléon I (1769-1821) 1804

Curator: Here we have Jean-Pierre Droz’s bronze medal featuring Napoléon I. Editor: My first impression is one of stark contrast. The laurel-crowned portrait seems almost serene compared to the dramatic scene on the reverse. Curator: Indeed. Droz was a master of coin and medal design, and this piece speaks volumes about the complexities of power and image-making during Napoleon's reign. The imagery on the reverse is particularly fascinating. Editor: Absolutely! We see a figure, perhaps Hercules, wrestling a serpent. It’s a potent symbol of triumph over adversity, the hero subduing chaos. It represents strength and resolve. Curator: And that visual language was deliberately chosen to bolster Napoleon's image. The medal functions as propaganda, associating him with classical ideals of leadership and virtue. Editor: A brilliant synthesis of political agenda and artistic expression. It really shows the power of imagery, doesn't it? Curator: It does, making us question the relationship between history and manufactured image. Editor: It has me pondering the durability of symbols and their power to shift meaning over time.