Congo, Mangbetu woman

The Dupont Collection includes sixteen medals by Marcel Rau (1889-1966). Among them is one of his masterpieces, this post-World War II medal from the Congo. In addition to a number of masterly portraits, in particular for the medals he cast, Marcel Rau produced some beautiful Art Deco medals in the period between the two world wars. His first medal was produced in 1927.

Son of an architect Marcel Rau trained at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Art in Brussels. Like many artists who made medals in this period, he had among his teachers the sculptor Charles Van der Stappen. Rau was awarded the Prix de Rome in 1909.

Marcel Rau produced around 80 cast and struck medals, as well as statues, façade décors and coins. He designed the Belgian 50 centime coin, with the head of a miner on one side, the famous head of Ceres on the 1 and 5 franc coins struck after World War II and the 100 franc coin bearing the profiles of four Kings of the Belgians.

Publication « D'acier et d'airain. Bas-reliefs de la collection Marie-Louise Dupont »
Website Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique