AMERICA & FRANCE FRIENDSHIP / WASHINGTON & LAFAYETTE / FRENCH 1917 WWI MEDAL

Description

In i
ts conflicted interdependency, the friendship between Washington and Lafayette reflects the relationship that the United States and France have maintained for more than two centuries. This little medal was made in 1917 to thank America for declaring war on Germany.
Obverse
:  busts of Washington and Lafayette, signed by Gaston Lavrillier
Reverse
: fourth and fourteen of July independence days of America and France : "4 juillet 1776 / 14 juillet 1789 : JOURNEE DE PARIS 1917"
Diameter
: 28
mm or 1,1 inch.
Metal
: silvered bronze
About artist
:
Gaston Albert Lavrillier, born in Paris in 1890 and died in 19581, is a French engraver, medalist, painter and sculptor, winner of the Prix de Rome in 1919.
Gaston Lavrillier studied at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, studied engraving in the workshops of Frederic de Vernon (1858-1912) and Auguste Patey (1855-1930), painting with Leopold Flameng (1831- 1911) and sculpture with Jean-Antoine Injalbert (1845-1933).
In 1919, Gaston Lavrillier obtained the first Grand Prix of Rome. In 1924, he directed the set of the film Surcouf by Luitz-Murat. He settled in Los Angeles in the thirties.
Gaston Lavrillier is the younger brother of medalist André Lavrillier, and the uncle of photographer Carol-Marc Lavrillier.