Design for a Token: Marine, 1744

Edmé Bouchardon

c. 1743

Red chalk

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Drawing was fundamental to the work of the sculptor Edme Bouchardon. This design for a French navy (Marine) token—one of hundreds of studies for medals and tokens he was hired to produce—is an exquisite example of his technical skill. Such tokens were issued every New Year’s day for employees of the royal administrations. Here the goddess Venus—born of the sea and thus a suitable marine subject—reclines elegantly on a narrow ledge, her pale, delicately modeled body standing out against the dark, richly drawn sea. Knowing his design would be translated into a one-inch bronze relief, Bouchardon divided his scheme into three concise zo