European Medals from 1513 to 1788
France. Jean-Louis de Nogaret de Lavalette, Duc d’Épernon. 1554-1642. Medal (Bronze, 56mm, 57.94 g 12), by Guillaume Dupré, 1607. I.L.A.LAVALETTA.D.ESPERN.P.ET.TOT.GAL. PEDIT.PRAEF //G DVPRE F 1607 Draped and cuirassed bust of Nogaret to right. Rev. INTACTVS.VTRINQVE (= untouched from either side ) On the left, a fox looking out from its den, underneath a bush, at a lion seated left, its left paw raised and its head turned back at a bare-breasted Fury, standing left and holding two torches. Jones 22. Kress 557. A superb, sharp contemporary cast with a fine dark brown patina. Good extremely fine. Ex Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, 49. Jean-Louis de Nogaret was a protégé of Henry III, and became Captain General of the French infantry and Duke of Epernon in 1581. He then became Admiral of France in 1587. He was opposed to Henry IV’s succession after Henry III’s assassination in 1589, but by 1596 he had been forced to reconcile himself to the king. He was however, a member of the plot that resulted in the assassination of Henry IV, and he continued in public service until 1638. Somewhat amazingly, he was a distant ancestor of Audrey Hepburn. This medal refers to a mission he undertook in 1607 to Strasbourg and Metz, who were alarmed by French attacks on Sedan. The reverse of the medal symbolizes this: the lion represented Strasbourg, between France (the fox) and the Empire (the Fury). Guillaume Dupré (c. 1576-1643) was the greatest medallist of his age: he was an expert bronze caster as well, with the result that his medals were extraordinarily well made, to the extent that many of his cast pieces almost appear to be struck. He was a particular favorite of Henri IV, who protected him from the calumnies of the Paris guild members, and often visited him in his studio.