Debussy, Claude. (1862–1918) Portrait Medal Plaquette

Debussy, Claude. (1862–1918)

Portrait Medal Plaquette

Cast bronze portrait medallion of the important composer by Pierre Turin. Obverse: Bust-length relief in profile, turned to the left. Bearded, wearing jacket, hair parted on the left. Inscribed below the image CLAUDE DEBUSSY. With the name P. TURIN below the beard. Reverse inscribed CLAUDE DEBUSSY / 1862-1918 / CETTE MEDAILLE / A ÉTÉ FRAPPÉE / A L'OCCASION / DE L'ÉRECTION / DES MONUMENTS DE / CLAUDE DEBUSSY / A PARIS / ET A ST GERMAINE EN LAYE. Rectangular, 1.5 x 2.25 inches (4.2 x 5.9 cm). In a vintage fitted case lined in red silk (covering of the case somewhat torn, overall very good). Niggl 538.

Turin attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and from 1911 exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Francais and later at the Salon of the Monnaie. In 1920 he received the Grand Prix de Rome and in 1925 a gold medal. Turin was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1936 and received the medal of honour at the Salon des Artistes Francais. He was also a member of the Académie Royale de Belgique.

From the collection of musical medals formed by Paul Niggl and which served as the basis for his book Musiker Medaillen (Darmstadt, 1965). The collection remained intact after Niggl's death, was offered for sale as a single lot by Spink & Son in 1998. (17210)

Ephemera Classical Music