1821 ST VINCENT DE PAUL FRENCH HISTORIC METALLIC GALLERY MEDAL

Description: The metallic gallery of great French men, referenced in the work of Jean-Pierre Collignon, "The French medal in the 19th century and history", has 118 characters. This medal is more than two centuries old.Obverse : bust of Vincent de Paul, signed by GatteauxReverse : "Né à Poy près Dax en MDLXXVI mort en MDCLX / GALERIE METALLIQUE DES GRANDS HOMMES FRANCAIS 1821"Diameter : 41 mm or 1,6 inchWeight : 37,8 gramsMetal : bronze, plain edge, original 1821 strike Vincent de Paul, CM (24 April 1581 – 27 September 1660), commonly known as Saint Vincent de Paul, was an Occitan French Catholic priest who dedicated himself to serving the poor.In 1622, Vincent was appointed as chaplain to the galleys. After working for some time in Paris among imprisoned galley slaves, he returned to be the superior of what is now known as the Congregation of the Mission, or the "Vincentians" (in France known as "Lazaristes"), which he co-founded.These Vincentian priests, with vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and stability, were to devote themselves entirely to the people in smaller towns and villages. Vincent was zealous in conducting retreats for clergy at a time when the local clergy's morals were flagging. He was a pioneer in seminary education and also founded the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. He is the namesake of the Vincentian Family of organizations, which includes both of the religious communities he founded.He was renowned for his compassion, humility, and generosity. Vincent was canonized in 1737 and is venerated as a saint in both the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.The Galerie métallique des grands hommes français was born in 1816 from the will of Louis Bérard (1783-1859), who was a French politician, engineer, industrialist and senior civil servant. The political context of 1816 was that of the Restoration: after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo (1815), defeated France returned to a monarchical regime. This political context, but also the personality of Louis Bérard were obviously not without consequences on the nature of the Galerie métal des grands hommes français. Although his father was guillotined in 1794 for having sided with the king, Louis Bérard was a fervent defender of liberal ideas. He served Napoleon faithfully, which earned him a temporary removal from the Council of State in 1815 before being recalled in 1817 and re-exiting it again in 1820. It should be noted that Bérard was not only a liberal, but also, subsequently, a very resolute opponent of King Charles X. Although his political life was very turbulent, Bérard was always a great servant of the State in the manner of the Ancien Régime as well as a fervent patriot. In addition to his political commitments, Bérard was a particularly active industrialist and the creation of the series of medals on the great French men shows his dynamism. However, this activity as a "medalist" was for him only an activity of prestige, honor and patriotism. He certainly earned much more income from his Gas Lighting Company or his forges in Alès than from the medals of the great French men. The Galerie Métallique was born in 1816, in the midst of the monarchical restoration. The primary idea that presided over the creation of the GMGH was the patriotic idea. Louis Bérard undoubtedly intended to recall a glorious French past after the crushing of France at Waterloo. He wanted to give a reason to be proud to the defeated French. But, given the political context of the monarchical restoration, it was out of the question to evoke recent political and military glories and Napoleon is the great absentee from the Galerie Métallique. However, his shadow hangs over this series of medals. It should be noted that the kings of France are also absent from the series, which is intended to be more or less apolitical (neither Bonapartist nor royalist): the GMGH is essentially made up of men of science, men of letters and artists.

Price: 25 USD

Location: Tourcoing

End Time: 2024-11-14T21:04:39.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.9 USD