Memorial of Circle of Friends of the Medallion, 1909 1909

Jules Edouard Roiné made this medallion memorial in 1909 in Manhattan, New York. Can you imagine the artist, Roiné, delicately carving into the surface? It's not paint, but the process seems similar—a slow, considered building up of form. I wonder what he was thinking about as he worked on this piece? Maybe he was pondering the nature of friendship and remembrance, especially of Vittore Pisano. The texture of the metal gives it such a tactile quality. You can almost feel the cool smoothness of the medallion under your fingers. Look at the detail in the rendering of Pisano’s hair. What a commitment to precision and care! You can see the subtle play of light and shadow across the surface, bringing the portrait to life. This piece fits into a tradition of artists commemorating their heroes and friends. It's a testament to the power of art to transcend time and connect us to the past. It's all one big conversation, isn't it?