Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet, 1694–1778) 1781

This terracotta medallion, created by Jean-Baptiste Nini in 1781, features a portrait of the French Enlightenment writer Voltaire. The profile portrait is rendered in high relief, with Voltaire depicted in a thoughtful pose. The inscription surrounding the image, "VOLTAIRE / NE 17. NOV. / MDCC. XCIV," identifies the subject and provides his birth date. This piece, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is a testament to the artistic skill of Nini and the enduring legacy of Voltaire, a key figure in the Age of Reason.