This work of art is temporarily off view while the Toledo Museum of Art Glass Pavilion galleries are reinstalled.

France, Orléans
Glasshouse of Bernard Perrot

This medallion was cast in a mold based on official gold medals of France’s Louis XIV (reigned 1643-1715).  This is one of seven such medallions by Bernard Perrot (French, 1619-1709) known today, and is in its original carved and gilded wood frame. Perrot applied gold leaf to the cast colorless glass portrait and silver amalgam to the reverse to give it the look of metalwork.

Louis XIV chose the sun as his personal symbol (he was known as the Sun King), and called his reign a “golden age,” making Perrot’s choice of gold particularly appropriate. It was common to portray Louis with the trappings of an ancient Roman ruler, such as the parade armor he wears in this portrait. Even the king’s profile portrait refers to Roman coins with portraits of the emperors. However, Louis’s long, curly wig was literally the height of 17th-century French fashion—the diminutive king insisted his wig be high enough to make him appear taller.

Glass, cast, ground, polished, gilded and silvered; frame: wood, carved, gessoed and gilded, about 1675-1685
Gift of the Apollo Society, 2006.42