profil de médaille

English translation: classical profile

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:profil de médaille
English translation:classical profile
Entered by: Charles Davis

15:56 Apr 30, 2016
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / Exhibition notes
French term or phrase: profil de médaille
In a description of a painting. Context: "Le modèle est peint devant le port d’Alger, dont Besnard a donné plusieurs vues pendant son séjour en Algérie, en 1893-1894. Son **profil de médaille**, qui se détache sur la mer rose baignée par le soleil couchant, est proche de celui d’une statue antique". Does this mean that the view in profile looks like a figure on a medal? If not, what does it mean, please? Thanks in advance.
Nicky Over
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:21
classical profile
Explanation:
The French expression is defined for us here:

"Profil, tête de médaille. Profil, tête dont les traits ont la régularité et le caractère marqué de ceux des médailles."
http://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/médaille

It's translated here in the Larousse dictionary as "regular features":

"avoir un profil de médaille
to have very regular features"
http://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais-anglais/profil...

Maybe you could use that, but it loses the idea of "profile". I think "classical profile" would capture it quite well. On the one hand, the matinee-idol type of star with regular features, high forehead, etc., is often descibed as having "classical good looks" or a "classical profile"; but here I think there's also that element of not just what he looks like but also how he's depicted, with his profile very clearly demarcated, as on a coin or medallion, and since that pose and form of portraiture goes back to classical times, and heads on medals usually hark back to classical models (which is explicit here with the reference to "statues antiques"), I think it's quite suitable.

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Note added at 46 mins (2016-04-30 16:43:26 GMT)
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This refers to the actor Rupert Everett:

"His classical profile, preternaturally smooth brow, elegant bearing and utter lack of expressiveness are assets useful in a Roman statue, much less so in an actor."
http://nypost.com/2009/03/16/spirit-willing-flash-weak/

I would almost be tempted to consider "chiselled profile" (chiseled in American spelling):

"chiseled
2. sharply or clearly shaped; clear-cut: a finely chiseled profile.
Also, esp. Brit., chiselled."
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/chiseled

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Note added at 49 mins (2016-04-30 16:46:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Another example of the association between "classical profile" and medals/coins:

"The medals in The Distribution illustrate Barry's ideas on coinage. The obverse of King Alfred demonstrates a proper relationship between a head and its inscription. This head, in classical profile, grandly fills the space [...]"
https://books.google.es/books?id=rIes6hsvVaIC&pg=PA134&lpg=P...
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 14:21
Grading comment
Thanks very much for your help.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3classical profile
Charles Davis


  

Answers


34 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
classical profile


Explanation:
The French expression is defined for us here:

"Profil, tête de médaille. Profil, tête dont les traits ont la régularité et le caractère marqué de ceux des médailles."
http://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/médaille

It's translated here in the Larousse dictionary as "regular features":

"avoir un profil de médaille
to have very regular features"
http://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais-anglais/profil...

Maybe you could use that, but it loses the idea of "profile". I think "classical profile" would capture it quite well. On the one hand, the matinee-idol type of star with regular features, high forehead, etc., is often descibed as having "classical good looks" or a "classical profile"; but here I think there's also that element of not just what he looks like but also how he's depicted, with his profile very clearly demarcated, as on a coin or medallion, and since that pose and form of portraiture goes back to classical times, and heads on medals usually hark back to classical models (which is explicit here with the reference to "statues antiques"), I think it's quite suitable.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 46 mins (2016-04-30 16:43:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

This refers to the actor Rupert Everett:

"His classical profile, preternaturally smooth brow, elegant bearing and utter lack of expressiveness are assets useful in a Roman statue, much less so in an actor."
http://nypost.com/2009/03/16/spirit-willing-flash-weak/

I would almost be tempted to consider "chiselled profile" (chiseled in American spelling):

"chiseled
2. sharply or clearly shaped; clear-cut: a finely chiseled profile.
Also, esp. Brit., chiselled."
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/chiseled

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 49 mins (2016-04-30 16:46:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Another example of the association between "classical profile" and medals/coins:

"The medals in The Distribution illustrate Barry's ideas on coinage. The obverse of King Alfred demonstrates a proper relationship between a head and its inscription. This head, in classical profile, grandly fills the space [...]"
https://books.google.es/books?id=rIes6hsvVaIC&pg=PA134&lpg=P...

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 14:21
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 48
Grading comment
Thanks very much for your help.
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