
Read the visual description
The sculpture is a detailed bronze medal with an intricately carved scene. The central figure is a robed woman wearing a crown, seated on a throne or plinth. She is holding a small, detailed depiction of three robed figures. The sculpture is rich in detail with floral and agricultural motifs surrounding the woman, including wheat, grapes, and flowers. The medal is set on an ornate metal stand with elegant scrollwork and a maroon, rectangular marble base with white veining. The polished bronze color of the medal gives it a classic and historical appearance. The inscription at the bottom reads "LE BEAU LE VRAI L UTILE."
National Gallery of Art · Sculpture
Architecture Holding Statues of Personifications of Structure, Form, and Color (Medal for the Société centrale des architects) [obverse]
Eugène-André Oudiné
- Date
- designed 1843, awarded 1911
- Medium
- bronze
- Dimensions
- overall (diameter): 7.24 cm (2 7/8 in.)
- Classification
- Sculpture · Medal/Medallion
- Accession number
- 2005.111.1.a
- Credit line
- Gift of David and Constance Yates in memory of Dr. Frank Trapp
- Time span
- 1826 to 1850
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- French
- struck
- Acquired after publication of Medals
- arts and sciences
- allegory
- Architecture
- Color
- Form
- Structure
Provenance
(David and Constance Yates, New York); gift 2005 to NGA.
Inscription
in exergue: .LE.BEAUX.LE.VRAI.L'UTILE. / .E.A.OUDINÉ.SCULP. / .CONSTANTDUFEUX.ARCH.; on the throne, in Greek letters, Kappa,Alpha,Lambda,Omicron,Kappa,Alpha,Gamma,Alpha,Theta,Omega,Sigma
NGA object ID 133054. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.