François Rabelais (ca. 1490-1553) earned a medical degree at the University of Montpellier in 1530. While practicing medicine in Lyon in 1532, he began to write the five volume satirical novel, Gargantua and Pantagruel, to which he devoted the rest of his life.
- Medal
Bronze. France 1818. Signed. Posthumous.
- Size
40 mm
- Artist
Jacques Edouard Gatteaux (1788-1881) Jacques Edouard Gatteau (1788-1881), son of Nicolas Marie, very prolific French sculptor and medallist, winner of many awards for his medallic work, including the Legion of Honour. He studied engraving under his father and sculpture under Moitte. Member of the Académie des beaux-arts. (Forrer 2, 206)
- Obverse
Clothed bust to left, wearing skull-cap; in a curve at left and right, FRANÇOIS RABELAIS; Below, in smaller letters, E. GATTEAUX.
- Reverse
In a field, NÉ /A CHINON / VERS / M.CCCC.LXXXIII. / MORT / EN M.D.LIII. in six parallel lines; in exergue, GALERIE METALIQUE / DES GRANDS HOMMES FRANÇAIS. in two lines, and below a shorter mark, 1818.
- Ref
Freeman 437; Storer 2916; Nilsson 491
