Portrait medallion of Huygens , Jean Jacques Clérion, 1679 Inv P02618

In 1679, at the height of his fame, Christiaan Huygens had this portrait medallion made by the sculptor Jean Jacques Clérion. This artist received most of his commissions from the court of Louis XIV. The great scientist from Holland turned out to be a critical model. In a letter he wrote: "My sculptor has as yet not succeeded at all in making a good likeness, and the work would be progressing even worse if I were not constantly telling him what was wrong." Despite Huygens' comments Clérion was able to see his commission through to a successful conclusion. The portrait remained in the possession of Huygens' descendants until 1809. It then became the property of the University of Leiden, from where it found its way into the collection of Museum Boerhaave.