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Clothes for the Prisoners of War Medal
Clothes for the Prisoners of War Medal
Clothes for the Prisoners of War Medal

Clothes for the Prisoners of War Medal

Maker
Maker
Period1914
MediumBronze
Dimensions2.75 × 1.63 × 0.13 in. (7 × 4.1 × 0.3 cm)
SignedOn the reverse of the medal is the inscription "Le Vetement / Du Prisonnier / De Guerre / Fonde En Decembre 1914 / A Ceux / Qui L'ont Cree / A Ceux / Qui L'ont Aide," which translates to "Clothes for the prisoners of war, founded in December 1914, to those who have created it, to those who have rendered assistance." The signature of the original artist Jean Louis Forain appears as "Forain" below the seated soldier, while medallist Max Blondat's signature appears as "MAX BLONDAT APRES FORAIN" along the extreme lower left edge of the plaque. The cornucopia of the Paris Mint and the word "BRONZE" is stamped along the bottom rim edge of the medal.
ClassificationsThe Robert Hartshorne World War I Collection
Credit LineGift of Mary Minturn Adams in memory of her Hartshorne Ancestors, 2018
Object number2018.10.20.6
DescriptionA rectangular commemorative medal struck in bronze. On the medal's obverse in the figure of a mourning soldier in three quarter view oriented towards the left, dressed in uniform including kepi headgear, resting pen and paper on his right knee while covering his face with his right hand. On the reverse of the medal is the inscription "LE VETEMENT / DU PRISONNIER / DE GUERRE / FONDE EN DECEMBRE 1914 / A CEUX / QUI L'ONT CREE / A CEUX / QUI L'ONT AIDE." the medal is in its original burgundy cardboard, wood and paper covered hinged case with burgundy velvet lining.
Curatorial RemarksThis powerful plaquette medal depicts a French prisoner of war in the midst of writing a letter home, burying his face in his hand in hopelessness. The soldier's military headgear, known as a kepi, is associated in America with the Civil War, although the style was popular for decades in the French Army. At the start of the conflict in 1914, most French soldiers wore their kepis, but later replaced them with forage caps. On the reverse of the medal, the inscription pays tribute to those involved in the relief efforts for French prisoners of war. In early part of World War I, Germany was overwhelmed with the influx of prisoners of war. By September of 1914, over 125,000 French and 95,000 Russian soldiers were prisoners. Lack of infrastructure resulted in brutal conditions in the war camps, with starvation and sickness creating great suffering. Such organizations as the Red Cross, the Central Prisoners of War Committee of Great Britain, and the Vetement du Prisonnier in France worked to alleviate the suffering of war prisoners with parcels and shipments. Artist Max Blondat (1872 - 1925) was a French sculptor and artist who modeled his commemorative plaque after a drawing by countryman and Impressionist artist Jean Louis Fourain (1852 - 1931). Both Fourain and Blondat were members of the French Army's Camouflage Service, which drew upon the experience and creativity of artists, sculptors, stage painters, and technicians to disguise French artillery and entrenchments. Britain and the United States quickly followed suit when camouflage proved its worth. Blondat left the Service in 1917 to run the School of Fine Arts in Dijon until 1919. He was awarded with the 1914 - 1918 War Cross and was awarded the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1925.NotesThis medal was collected by Robert Hartshorne during his service in the First World War. Hartshorne joined the American Red Cross in 1916. His association with that organization apparently put him in touch with the American Committee for Devastated France, which intended to introduce modern American farming methods in those battlefield areas heavily damaged near Rheims. Hartshorne arrived in France in May of 1918 and returned to the United States at the end of December the same year. Hartshorne collected numerous medals, uniform insignia, and souvenirs commemorating his time abroad. For a more complete biography of Robert Hartshorne, please see the portrait miniature of Robert Hartshorne (accession number 2018.10.9).
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