A Guide to the Exhibition of English MedalsBritish Museum. Department of Coins and Medals
History
A Guide to the Exhibition of English Medals
British Museum. Department of Coins and Medals
Medals -- Great Britain
The accession of the House of Hanover introduced into England some
German artists; but few of them are of any note. Of the medallists
who worked in England from the accession of George I. to the end of
the last century, are J. A. Dassier, who executed the large series of
medals of English Sovereigns from William I. to George II.; Richard
Yeo, who made the Culloden medal; Thomas Pingo, who made the Gibraltar
medal of 1782, and several medals for societies; C. H. Küchler, who
executed the Nile and Trafalgar medals; and J. G. Hancock, whose works
are very numerous.
Medallic art of the present century in England owes all its merit to
the work of Pistrucci, an Italian who came to this country in 1815
and remained here till his death in 1855, and to the work of the Wyon
Family. To Pistrucci we are indebted for the famous Waterloo Medal,
for many medals of learned societies, and for some of our finest
coin-dies; and to the Wyons, for the military and naval medals as well
as for a most extensive series of academical and other pieces. Since
the resignation by Pistrucci of the office of Engraver to the Mint, the
Wyons have held that post and have produced the greater portion of the
dies for coins.
In concluding this sketch of medallic art in England, some mention
should be made of the efforts of several public-spirited firms, which
at the beginning of the present century produced series of medals
commemorating some of the great events of English history at that time.
The most important of these is the series of National Medals of James
Mudie, on which work a number of foreign as well as native artists were
employed; and it is remarkable that these engravers include eminent
French medallists who commemorated the English successes in the wars
with France.
My acknowledgments are due to Mr. A. W. Franks, F.R.S., for much
assistance, and for the use of his valuable notes on Mr. Edward
Hawkins' unpublished work referred to in the Preface; and also to the
Hon. C. W. Fremantle, C.B., Deputy-Master of the Mint, to Mr. L. C.
Wyon, and to Mr. A. B. Wyon, for important information and suggestions.
HERBERT A. GRUEBER.
GUIDE TO ENGLISH MEDALS EXHIBITED.
EDWARD IV. 1461—1483.
1. John Kendal, 1480. _Obv._ Bust r., in armour, wearing cross
of order of St. John. IO. KENDAL RHODI TVRCVPELLERIVS. _Rev._
Shield, arms of Kendal, the cross of St. John in chief. TEMPORE
OBSIDIONIS TVRCHORVM. MCCCCLXXX. Bronze. Size 2·2. Cast and
chased. Italian.
John Kendal was Prior of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in
London in 1491 and 1501 (Willis's Mit. Abb.). He was Lieutenant of the
Grand Master in Italy, England, Flanders, and Ireland, and in virtue of
that office was engaged in 1480 in raising recruits for the defence of
Rhodes against the Turks.
HENRY VIII. 1509—1547.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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