FRANCE. Julien-David Le Roy Bronze Medal, L'An 11 (1802/3). Paris Mint. GEM UNCIRCULATED.

Bramsen-278; Julius-1180. By Duvivier. Diameter: 41mm; Weight: 36.27 gms. Commemorating the life of the architect and antiquarian. Obverse: J DAVID LEROY MEMBRE DE L'INSTITUT NATION DE FRANCE NÉ EN 1724 M EN 1803, bust right; Reverse: VOTÉ PAR LES ARCHITECTES SES ÉLEVES, Doric column surmounted by facing owl; galley to left, dividers to right; PARIS AN XI in exergue. Edge : Plain. Deep chestnut brown surfaces, with an extremely glossy and lustrous nature. A RARE and interesting type. An accomplished historian and classicist, Julien-David Le Roy published the first academic analysis on the Athenian Acropolis in nearly 80 years when he saw Les Ruines des plus beaux monuments de la Grèce to print in 1762. He viewed ancient architectural motifs as aspects which should not necessarily be copied, but integrated in newer, more modern ways. In particular, his work led to much more usage of the colonnade in contemporary design and architecture.