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Heraclius
Possibly by: Michelet Saulmon (French)
French (Burgundy)
Medieval
about 1400
Object Place: Europe, France, Burgundy
Medium/Technique
Metal; bronze (88% copper, 9.5% zinc with small amounts of lead and tin)
Dimensions
Diameter: 9.5 cm (3 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Theodora Wilbour Fund in memory of Zoë Wilbour
Accession Number67.291
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsNumismatics – Medals
This inspired image of the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius (610-641) was likely designed by Michelet Saulmon, a court painter to Jean, Duke de Berry. Heraclius was celebrated as the heroic leader who recovered the relic of the True Cross, looted from Jerusalem by the Persians. With sharply turned head, he lifts his eyes to rays of light, and wears a splendidly ornamented crown, his fingers wrapped in his beard, his body supported by a crescent moon. These elements might be interpreted as signs of his virtues (divine inspiration, kingship, wisdom, and dominion, for example). This work is a French forerunner of the two-sided portrait medal that would become a characteristic type in Renaissance art throughout Europe.
Catalogue Raisonné
Kress 525.
DescriptionCircular medal of Heraclius (Byzantine Emperor AD 610-41).
Obverse: Profile bust of Heraclius looking to proper left and set into a crescent shape below, wearing a crown; rays of light above; inscribed at edge in Greek across field "[first word in Greek]·LLVMINA·VVL·TVM·TVVM·DEV", and on crescent shape "·SVPER·TENEBAS·NOSTRAS·MILLITABOR·IN·GENTIBVS·".
Reverse: A carriage being pulled by three horses and lead by a squire with seated Heraclius, holding a cross in his left hand, moving to proper left; four lamps hang above cart and horses; inscribed at edge "+SUPER+ASPIdEM+ET+BAXILISCVM+AMBVLAVIT+ET+CONCVLCAVIT+LEONEM+ET+dRACONEM+" and across field in Greek.
Obverse: Profile bust of Heraclius looking to proper left and set into a crescent shape below, wearing a crown; rays of light above; inscribed at edge in Greek across field "[first word in Greek]·LLVMINA·VVL·TVM·TVVM·DEV", and on crescent shape "·SVPER·TENEBAS·NOSTRAS·MILLITABOR·IN·GENTIBVS·".
Reverse: A carriage being pulled by three horses and lead by a squire with seated Heraclius, holding a cross in his left hand, moving to proper left; four lamps hang above cart and horses; inscribed at edge "+SUPER+ASPIdEM+ET+BAXILISCVM+AMBVLAVIT+ET+CONCVLCAVIT+LEONEM+ET+dRACONEM+" and across field in Greek.
InscriptionsObverse: Inscribed at edge in Greek ["Heraclius, faithful in Christ our Lord, king and emperor of the Romans, victorious and triumphant, forever exalted"], across field, first word in Greek and then "·LLVMINA·VVL·TVM·TVVM·DEV" ["Cause thy face to Shine, O Lord"], and on crescent shape "·SVPER·TENEBAS·NOSTRAS·MILLITABOR·IN·GENTIBVS·" ["Upon our darkness; I will make war upon the heathen"].
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "+SUPER+ASPIdEM+ET+BAXILISCVM+AMBVLAVIT+ET+CONCVLCAVIT+LEONEM+ET+dRACONEM+" ["He has trodden on the asp and basilisk and trampled on the lion and the dragon" from Psalm 90:13] and across field in Greek ["Glory in the heaves to Christ the Lord, for Emperor Heraclius has broken through iron gates and set free the Holy Cross"].
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "+SUPER+ASPIdEM+ET+BAXILISCVM+AMBVLAVIT+ET+CONCVLCAVIT+LEONEM+ET+dRACONEM+" ["He has trodden on the asp and basilisk and trampled on the lion and the dragon" from Psalm 90:13] and across field in Greek ["Glory in the heaves to Christ the Lord, for Emperor Heraclius has broken through iron gates and set free the Holy Cross"].
ProvenanceFriedrich (Fritz) Neuburg (b. 1876 - d. 1966), Litomerice, Czech Republic; December 19, 1938, anonymous (Neuburg) sale, J. Schulman, Amsterdam, lot 2. 1967, sold by Blumka Gallery, New York, to the MFA. (Accession Date: March 8, 1967)