Concordiae

This medal was undoubtedly commissioned by Louise Philippe himself to celebrate the Restoration of the Monarchy following the French Revolution of 1830. The title expressed on the medal, “King of the French,” rather than King of France, signifies his election by his subjects in accordance with the new constitutional laws. As with Napoleon in the early years of the nineteenth century, Louis Philippe was adept at using the art of the medal to promote Royalist propaganda during his July Monarchy. Over twenty-eight effigies of him are known to exist, underscoring his interest in disseminating the power of his reign.


The talented, prolific medalist Alexis Joseph Depaulis studied at the École nationale supériore des Beaux-Arts under Bertrand Andrieu in medal making and Pierre Cartellier in sculpture. Depaulis regularly exhibited works at the school’s salon between 1815 to 1855, and in 1834 he was named a chevalier de la legion d’honneur. The Concordiae is one of his finest and best-known compositions.