ART UNION MEDALS IN SILVER AND BRONZE
The Art Union of London was founded in 1837 to encourage British artists and the manufacturers of decorative wares and, in particular, the interest in medallic art. The silver medals were awarded as prizes by the Society whilst the bronze were available for purchase by memebers who might prefer them to an engraving. The numbers of medals struck in both metals was therefore very small, of the silver, a striking of thirty pieces was the norm. The artists employed to design them were the finest available and the resultant medals are an outstanding example of medallic art of the period.
William Hogarth, 1848, silver, 54 mm., by L.C.Wyon, draped bust right, rev. a representation of part of one of Hogarth's pictures, 'An Election' (BHM.2302; Beaulah 182/4), cleaned, extremely fine, very rare
Details
William Hogarth, 1848, silver, 54 mm., by L.C.Wyon, draped bust right, rev. a representation of part of one of Hogarth's pictures, 'An Election' (BHM.2302; Beaulah 182/4), cleaned, extremely fine, very rare