Henry Dropsy (1885-1969)

Henry Dropsy (1885–1969) was one of the most renowned French engravers and medalists of the first half of the 20th century. A pupil of Georges and Jules-Clément Chaplain at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he developed a refined style that combined classical tradition with modernity. Winner of the Grand Prix de Rome in 1908, he spent time at the Villa Medici, where he perfected his mastery of modeling and composition. Dropsy created numerous medals, plaquettes, and coins, notably for the French State, the Académie des Beaux-Arts, and various institutions. Elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1930, he was later appointed professor at the École des Beaux-Arts, training several generations of artists. His works, marked by elegance and restraint, hold a significant place in the history of modern French medallic art.