This medal's obverse bears bust of MacDowell, left. Arond top, · EDWARD MACDOWELL · ; signed under truncation, Ernest Bruce Haswell / 1916
The reverse bears seated draped barefoot woman concentrating on incense burner (?) in her hands. Around, · LITERATVRE · DRAMA · MVSIC · ART · ARCHITECTVRE · ; to left of woman, THE / MACDOWELL / SOCIETY; signed in exergue with (circled H monogram)
Edward MacDowell (1860-1908) was an American composer and pianist of the Romantic period. He was best known for his second piano concerto and his piano suites Woodland Sketches, Sea Pieces and New England Idylls. Woodland Sketches includes his most popular short piece, "To a Wild Rose". In 1904 he was one of the first seven Americans honored by membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Particularly the reverse is wonderfully designed, with the young woman seated on the exergue and her back picking up the curvature of the medal. I regard this medal to be a little gem.
The medal was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.
References: MACo 1916-006