Studio: international art (15.1899)

The Renaissance of the Medal in France

spreading, and the "compact majorities," to which
Ibsen alludes, were gaining a saner idea of the
equality of all artistic manifestations, the State was
endeavouring to stimulate the productive faculties
of the worker, and at the' same time to foster the
ever-growing interest of the masses. The Ministry
of Fine Arts and the Directors of the Mint added
largely to the inducements previously offered by
giving numerous commissions to artists, and by
facilitating the collector's opportunities of acquiring
specimens.* In 1895 the Government decided to
change the figures on the gold, silver, and bronze
money, the coins in circulation dating back to the

* In my book (" Medailleurs Francais depuis 1789,"
Paris : Lahure, 1897) there is published a list of modern
medals offered for sale by the French authorities.

medal (obverse and reverse) by degeorgh

mission clearly defined: it bears witness to the
changes and chances of history, and to the march
of civilisation; it records the joys and sorrows of
the nation and the home alike, ensuring perpetual
remembrance of every event, public or private.
One has only to think for a moment of our current
coin passing from hand to hand, to realise the active
role played by the medallist's art, that art which
more than any other tends to forward the educa-
tion of the public taste. While these truths were medal (obverse and reverse) by oscar roty

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