Victory [reverse] 1552

Etienne Delaune, a French printmaker and goldsmith, probably made this silver medal in the mid-16th century. Its allegorical imagery—the figure of Victory holding a palm frond and wreath—would have resonated with a courtly elite familiar with classical symbolism. But the medal’s small scale also suggests a more intimate function, perhaps as a personal token or wearable emblem. The inscription, "SIC SAMA RESCISSE IVVAT," translates to "Thus it is pleasing to know the same things," hinting at a shared intellectual culture or set of political beliefs among its intended recipients. To understand Delaune’s work fully, we need to look at the socio-political context of the French Renaissance, the role of the court in commissioning art, and the circulation of medals and prints as vehicles for humanist ideas. Researching these can tell us about the complex interplay between artistic production, political power, and the formation of cultural identity in 16th-century France.