Jacques-Donatien Leray de Chaumont (1725–1803) 1771

Jean-Baptiste Nini created this terracotta medallion of Jacques-Donatien Leray de Chaumont in the 18th century. The circular form is immediately striking, with its concentric rings framing the relief portrait. This structure invites the eye to move inward, focusing on the subject’s profile. Nini masterfully uses the medallion format to explore ideas of representation and identity. The inscription encircling the portrait, combined with the detailed rendering of Chaumont's features, creates a sense of historical presence. There’s a semiotic interplay at work here; the circular shape might symbolize completeness, while the profile view, common in classical portraiture, evokes notions of power and status. The artist uses line and form to convey not just a likeness, but also a sense of Chaumont’s place within the social and intellectual circles of his time. The artwork's power resides in its formal arrangement, inviting us to consider how the visual language of portraiture encodes cultural values and communicates meaning. Through the interplay of shape, line, and text, the medallion prompts us to reflect on the enduring relationship between art, identity, and representation.