France - Bronze medal n.d. (1900), Levillain, Ferdinand (1837-1905),

France - Bronze medal n.y. (1900), Levillain, Ferdinand (1837-1905), Junon et Psyché, minted for the members of the Société des Amis de la Médaille Française (SAMF), Av: On the obverse the goddess Juno raises the severed head of Argus and scatters the thousand eyes of the guardian on the plumage of a peacock, Rv: Psyche sits mourning in front of the entrance to the underworld guarded by Cerberus, edge: hallmarks 'Füllhorn' / 'BRONZE' / 'Eidechse' and number '280', mint, minimal patina, fine scratches, minimally rubbed, minimal rim flaw, toning, approx. 43.7 g. This bronze medal by the Parisian artist Ferdinand Levillain (1837-1905), whose work dealt with ancient mythology, was distributed to the members of the SAMF in 1900. It is characterized by the use of different relief heights. Distr. 2/1900, edition 280/291, reproduced in Maier 2010, no. 2, p. 66.

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The medal, whose historical origins lie in the Italian Renaissance, was long used as a political propaganda and information tool that was easy to distribute due to its handy size. Its design was therefore subject to strict content and stylistic guidelines. Further developments in production techniques, inspiration from other artistic genres and the recognition of the medal as an excellent means of commemorating anniversaries, weddings, etc. led to a new upswing in medal art in France at the end of the 19th century, with a new design language and variety of themes. In addition to these changed artistic and technical conditions, the flourishing exhibition business around 1900 and the new position of the medallist as a recognized artist in society also contributed to this development. Towards the end of the century, enthusiasts of contemporary medallic art formed associations dedicated to the promotion of artists and exhibitions and commissioned medals directly from the artists for distribution to their members. The first and best known was the Société des Amis de la Medaille Française (SAMF), which was founded in 1899 by the art critic Roger Marx. This association, which existed for twenty years, commissioned works from the most famous medallists and sculptors in France, the number of which depended on the number of members. What still fascinates the viewer today is the concentrated artistic work that was realized and developed here in a very small space.