Offered is a stunning, large (59mm) art-deco bronze medal, designed by Marcel Claude Renard, and struck by the Monnaie de Paris for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT) in 1936 as part of a series of stylized ‘Waterways of France’ medals. Marcel was born on the 5th August 1893 in Lyon, the son and pupil of Leopold Renard. He studied under Rost and Boucher at the École des Beaux-Arts, Lyon and later at École des Beaux-Arts, Paris. Whilst studying in Lyon he was a pupil of the artist Tony Tollet (1857-1953), who was Professor and Director at the City art school and President of the Société Lyonnaise des Beaux-Arts. His work was well respected in period as he exhibited at the Salon des Artists Francais and at the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs in 1925 (2nd class medal) and again in 1934 (1st class medal). Many of the medals seen regularly are from a series relating to shipping lines and packet ships. Amongst his other works - he created the monumental bas-relief panels the decorate the facade of the Lycée du Turgot in Limoges and a sculpture titled 'Le Rhône et la Saône' for a Bridge Ornament in the City of Lyon in 1936.
The medal itself is ‘Garonne Fleuve,’ and features a well-balanced allegorical figure above fish design which absolutely screams of the era. The condition is excellent overall, with some minimal cabinet friction to the high-points. Although these medals are some of Renard’s most available work, they are by no means common, making building a full set a challenging yet rewarding task.
Offered is a stunning, large (59mm) art-deco bronze medal, designed by Marcel Claude Renard, and struck by the Monnaie de Paris for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique (CGT) in 1936 as part of a series of stylized ‘Waterways of France’ medals. Marcel was born on the 5th August 1893 in Lyon, the son and pupil of Leopold Renard. He studied under Rost and Boucher at the École des Beaux-Arts, Lyon and later at École des Beaux-Arts, Paris. Whilst studying in Lyon he was a pupil of the artist Tony Tollet (1857-1953), who was Professor and Director at the City art school and President of the Société Lyonnaise des Beaux-Arts. His work was well respected in period as he exhibited at the Salon des Artists Francais and at the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs in 1925 (2nd class medal) and again in 1934 (1st class medal). Many of the medals seen regularly are from a series relating to shipping lines and packet ships. Amongst his other works - he created the monumental bas-relief panels the decorate the facade of the Lycée du Turgot in Limoges and a sculpture titled 'Le Rhône et la Saône' for a Bridge Ornament in the City of Lyon in 1936.
The medal itself is ‘Garonne Fleuve,’ and features a well-balanced allegorical figure above fish design which absolutely screams of the era. The condition is excellent overall, with some minimal cabinet friction to the high-points. Although these medals are some of Renard’s most available work, they are by no means common, making building a full set a challenging yet rewarding task.
