France, Jean du Caylar de Saint Bonnet, 1585-1636, Louis XIII, 1610-1643, Silver Medal 1634, masterpiece by Guillaume Dupré
TTRAO
Sign InDescription
France. Louis XIII, 1610-1643. Jean du Caylar de Saint Bonnet, 1585-1636. Marquis de Toiras and Maréchal de France. Large Silver Cast Medal 1634; by Guillaume Dupré.
LE MARESCHAL DE TOYRAS. Bust right, wearing armour, a sash, a lace collar, and the Cross of the Order of the Holy Ghost. Signed below: GVIL DUPRE F. 1634 // ADVERSA CORONANT. The sun shining through clouds over a landscape with a castle to the left, a town below it to the right and the sea beyond.
Diam. 59.5mm (excluding rim 56.5 mm); 57.36 g.
BMC [Jones] 67; Maz II, 705; Kress 570; Trésor, pl.XIV, 3. Humphris 116. Hill, Medals of the Renaissance, pl.26, 9.
Of the highest rarity in silver. An original cast of exceptional quality and beautiful patina.
Plugged holes. Extremely fine with sharp details and high relief. A masterpiece of Guillaume Dupré's work
Comment
De Toiras distinguished himself during the defence of the Ile de Ré against the Duke of Buckingham in 1627, and he was made Maréchal de France in 1630 following the siege of Casale. In 1633 he fell out with Richelieu and at the time this medal was made, he was living in exile in Savoy, where he was promoted to Lieutenant General of Savoy. He was killed in action shortly afterwards.
Of the 12 institutional specimens listed by Jones only the British Museum (M.635) and the Bibliotèque National, Paris, (2117) have specimens in silver.