Historical and Art Medals

1833. France. Vicomte de Chateaubriand, bronze medal by Durand, head right, reverse LlBERTÉ DE LA PRESSE, 42mm (Essl. 2705). Extremely fine (£20-30)

François René, Vicomte de Chateaubnand (1768-1848), French writer and politician, born at St. Malo, the son of a noble Breton family. Atala, a love story of savage life, published in 1801. established his literary reputation; while Génie du Christianisme, a defence of the Roman Catholic Church raised him to the foremost position among French writers of the day.