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 Edward Hawkins' unpublished work referred to in the Preface; and also to the Hon.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.
2. Badge of Rose. Obv. Bust of King l., wearing hat, cloak, &c. HENRICVS VIII. DEI GRA. REX ANGL. FRANC. DOM. HYB. Rev. Tudor rose; above, ODOR EIVS VT LIBANI; below, DEFENSOR FIDEI. Silver. Size 1·3. Cast and chased.
This medal is without date; but the title of Lord of Ireland (DOM. HYB.) shows that it was executed before 1541.
3. Medallic Portrait. Bust of King, nearly full face, towards r., wearing hat with feather and ermine cloak; around neck, collar and medal, cross of St. George. Copper gilt. Size 3·9. Cast.
This portrait is after a painting by Holbein.
4—5. Portrait with title of "Head of the Church," 1545. Obv. Bust of King r., wearing cap, ermine cloak, and collar. HENRICVS OCTA. &c. FIDEI DEFENSOR ET IN TERR. ECCLE. ANGLI. ET HIBE. SVB CHRIST. CAPVT SVPREMVM. Rev. Two inscriptions of same import as that on the obverse; one in Hebrew, the other in Greek; above H. R.; below, Londini, 1545. Gold and silver. Size 2·05. Cast and chased.
Henry's supremacy over the church was acknowledged by the clergy 1531, and confirmed by Parliament 1534. This medal was not struck till 1545.
6. Badge. Half-length figure of King, full face, wearing hat, robes trimmed with fur, &c. HENRIC. OCT. REX ANGL. Z. FRANC. Laurel-border. Silver. Oval. Size 2·3. Cast and chased.
This may have been worn as a badge of some society.
7. Anne Boleyn, 1534. Obv. Bust of Queen, nearly full face, towards l., wearing coif with veil, &c., in field, A. R. THE MOOST HAPPI. ANNO 1534. Reverse plain. Lead. Size 1·5. Cast.
Anne Boleyn, daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn, and second wife of Henry VIII., married 1535, and beheaded 19th May, 1536.
8. Sir Thomas More, 1535. Obv. Bust r., wearing biretta and fur cloak. THOMAS MORVS ANGLIÆ CANCEL. Rev. A cypress felled, the axe in the trunk. SVAVIVS OLET. Copper. Size 2·3. Cast and chased.
Sir Thomas More, born 1480, was appointed Keeper of the Great Seal 1529; beheaded 6 July, 1535. The reverse typifies More under the form of a cypress, which has fallen under the stroke of the axe, but whose odour has thus become more fragrant.
9. Another. Obv. Bust of More, three quarters l., wearing biretta, fur cloak, &c. EFFIGIES THOMÆ MORI MARTIRIS ANGLI. Rev. Bust of St. Thomas à Becket, three quarters r., in archiepiscopal dress, holding cross and book. S. THOMAS ARCHIEP. CANTVAR. MART. AN. 1171. Silver. Size 1·45. All engraved.
This medal draws a parallel between the death of St. Thomas à Becket and Sir Thomas More, both champions of their faith, and both put to death under royal displeasure.
10. Thomas Cromwell, 1538. Obv. Bust l., wearing cap and gown trimmed with fur. IMAGO D. THOMÆ CRVMVELLI REG'. SECRET'. ANo. 38. Rev. Within garter, armorial shield of Cromwell, two coats quarterly: coronet attached to rim for suspension. Silver-gilt. Size 2·05. Cast and chased.
Thomas Cromwell, born 1490, was secretary to Wolsey, and afterwards promoted by Henry VIII. to the highest offices of the State; created Earl of Essex April 1540 and beheaded in July of same year.
11. Michael Mercator, 1539. Obv. Bust, three quarters l., wearing cap, fur cloak, &c. A REGE ANGLORVM PRIMI MILITIS CREATI EX VENLO EFFIGIES. Rev. MICHAEL MERCATOR ÆTATIS SVÆ XLVIII. GRATIA DEO ET REGI. MDXXXIX.; Engraved. Silver. Size 1·8. Cast and chased.
In 1528 Michael Mercator, or, as Sir Thomas More in writing to Wolsey calls him, Michael the Gueldrois, was sent to Henry VIII. by Mons. de Ysselstein, on a confidential mission respecting the affairs of the Low Countries. Again in 1538 in two letters of Floris d'Egmont, Count of Buren and Lord of Ysselstein, one to Henry VIII. and the other to Cromwell, we find him requesting the kind reception of Michael Mercator. These letters also refer to Mercator's artistic skill, and we learn from Puteanus or Du Puy that he excelled in medallic portraits, and that this medal, which is of contemporary workmanship, was executed by himself. It was on this second visit to England that he received the order of Knighthood from the King.
12. Another. Similar: bust in profile l., and reverse inscription in relief. Lead. Size 1·8. Cast.
EDWARD VI. 1547—1553.
13. Portrait, 1547. Obv. Half-length figure of King l., wearing cap with feather, doublet, chain, &c.; in r. hand, scroll. EDVARDVS V. (sic) DEI GRA. AN. REX; incuse. No reverse. Lead. Size 2·9. Cast and chased.
A contemporary cast in lead,