Palais des Machines 1885 - 1899

Jules-Clément Chaplain created this medal, "Palais des Machines," featuring classical motifs alongside symbols of modern industry. The seated figure, draped in classical garb and crowned with a laurel wreath, evokes the ancient Roman ideal of civic virtue and achievement. The winged putto above carries associations of divine inspiration and triumph, echoing figures in Renaissance art celebrating intellectual and artistic accomplishments. Note how the figure holds a scepter, a symbol of power and authority that dates back to antiquity and reappears in various forms throughout history. This emblem, initially representing earthly rule, has been transformed in different contexts—religious, political, and military. This combination of classical and modern symbols reveals a subconscious desire to legitimize the new industrial age, imbuing it with the grandeur and authority of the past. A powerful synthesis of old and new, the medal reflects humanity's ongoing quest to find meaning and continuity amidst constant change.