France. LA CIGALE ET LA FOURMI (The Grasshopper and the Ant) – LA CAISSE D’EPARGNE DE ROANNE. By Jean Vernon. Bronze 68mm. Obv: The hard working ant and the singing grasshopper. Cf. Catalogue Général Illustré vol. 3 391/D. $120. Sorry, SOLD (September, 2023)

Jean ?mile Louis de Vernon (known as Jean Vernon) was the son of medallist and sculptor Fr?d?ric-Charles Victor de Vernon. He was born in Paris on April 1 1897. Vernon studied at the ?cole des Arts D?coratifs and at the ?cole Nationale Sup?rieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, under Jules Coutan and Hippolyte Jules Lef?bvre. He first exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Fran?ais in 1922 and won a silver medal in 1924 and a gold medal in 1936. Vernon worked primarily as a sculptor, but created medals, including his famous series of medals depicting scenes from Jean de la Fontaine’s Fables. He died in Paris on September 9 1975.