| Summary: | Sculpted medallion portraits of the king first made their appearance in 16th century France, at a time when this architectural « all antica » ornament from Italy became sought after. From Francis Ier to Louis XIV, this motif inspired by roman medals was used to glorify the image of the king, in the same way they celebrated emperors during Antiquity. The use of this type of royal portrait followed the French craze for heads in roundels, which adorned numerous 16th century buildings and 17th century tombs, yet these sculpted medallions outlived this architectural phase. This study will analyze the context in which these portraits were made, their location and to whom they were destined, while trying to grasp the function of these royal effigies.
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