Medals about Art

The medal's obverse bears Janus head. Around top and under head, · AMERICAN · ACADEMY · / · IN · ROME · / · 1894 · ; signed around bottom right, CECERE 1935

The medal's reverse bears olive branch in four-segmented ring. Around, · ALUMNI · MEDAL · / FOR · COLLABORATION

The American Academy in Rome is the oldest American overseas center for independent study and advanced research in the arts and humanities. Each year, through a national juried competition, the Academy offers approximately 30 Rome Prize fellowships. Many of the most famous American sculptors are Academy alumni.

References:   MACo 1935-016

The medal bears seated female figure, r., with rearing Pegasus behind her. At her feet, FOR / MERIT; signed around top right, · U · ELLERHUSEN

This design was used for the obverse of many art awards and probably goes back to the early 1920's.  The first medal documented by Dick Johnson that bears this motif is dated 1924.

The circular medal measures 88.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1936-026

The medal's obverse bears three draped female figures in the process of sculpting, drawing, and painting. Around, NATIONAL · ASSOCIATION · OF · WOMEN · ARTISTS; below, . FOUNDED 1889 .

The reverse bears a stylized sun in field at top. Below, AWARDED TO / (empty field) / FOR / (empty field); signed to right of sun, (BP monogram)

The edge is marked MEDALLIC ART CO NY

In 1889 women were still barred from full membership in the male-dominated National Academy of Design. Five women, Grace Fitz-Randolph, Edith Mitchill Prellwitz, Adele Frances Bedell, Anita C. Ashley, and Elizabeth S. Cheever, were finally fed up with the status quo and founded the Women's Art Club. The organization flourished and in 1913 was renamed the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors, reflecting its national influence and the increasing number of women sculptors. Through the 1920s the organization was sponsoring exhibitions nationally and abroad.

In the 1930s membership grew to over 1,000 and the organization opened its Argent Galleries on 57th Street in New York City. In 1941, the organization changed its name again to the National Association of Women Artists.

This medal is a redesign of an earlier version that had the same center image but the earlier name around the obverse's circumference.

The heptagonal medallion measures 70mm from side to side and was struck by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Its mintage is not reported.

The medal's obverse bears three busts, Brunelleschi, left, Michelangelo, facing, da Vinci, right. Around, · MVNICIPAL · ART · COMMISSION · / CITY · OF · LOS ANGELES; across bottom, BRUNELLESCHI / MICHELANGELO / LEONARDO DA VINCI; signed GLADYS LEWIS BUSH / 1946

The reverse is an empty field surrounded by heavily beaded border.

The circular medal measures 75.2mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1946-008

The medal's obverse bears a muscular nude goddess of art holding a small Nike with Pegasus and guiding star behind. The reverse bears a hand holding a modeling tool in front of a caliper and L-square. Around, THIS ABOVE ALL TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE.

The purpose of Abram Belskie's medal is not known, but the title, a line from Shakespeare's Hamlet, suggests that this medal was commissioned to honor artistic achievement and to encourage artists to follow their own creative impulses. In the artist's own words:

"The drama of Sculpture does not always appear on the surface but its story is indeed the story of civilization. Art is a goddess who smiles upon all, though mostly on her votaries and whose charms are very young. The sculptors of every age are the true mute though not inglorious laureates of their time and as long as men remain men, the principals [sic] of eternal beauty will woo their imagination."

This medal was chosen as the 49th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series. The Society's members seemed torn on this medal. While some found it beautiful and even without peer, others objected to lack of detail, anatomical weaknesses, and being "too modernistic for plain men."

The circular medal measures 73mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company.  The mintage was reported as 748 pieces in bronze. The number of silver pieces is not known but the edition was limited to 700.

References:   MACo 1930-001-049, SoM 49

The medal's obverse bears a fish, a schooner under full sail and a sea gull in flight. Around edge, GLOUCESTER MASSACHUSETTS; signed under fish, G. Aarons 1973

The medal's reverse bears painter's palette with brushes, writer's book, and sculptor's mallet. Around top, 350TH ANNIVERSARY; at bottom, 1623 - 1973

Gloucester is a coastal city on Cape Ann in Essex County, Massachusetts. That beautiful part of Massachusetts has traditionally attracted artists who had their summer studios there or lived there year round. Aarons was no exception to this trend. For many years he had studios in Brookline and Gloucester and, as a long-time resident, was honored with the task of creating the commemorative town medal that combines the coastal and artistic elements of the community.

The medal measures 38.1mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company.

Many thanks to Fred Beihl (www.StewartstownCoinShop.com, 717-993-3163) who sent me the images and measurements.

References:   MACo 1972-099

The obverse bears conjoined busts of Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband Archer M. Huntington facing right. Above, AMICI - HVMANI - GENERIS; below, ARCHER M. HUNTINGTON / ANNA HYATT HUNTINGTON

The reverse bears Anna Hyatt Huntington's Fighting Stallions sculpture, one rider hanging on to mane of his steed, the other about to be trampled under his horse's hooves. In exergue, BROOKGREEN / GARDENS; at lower right, ANNA HYATT / HUNTINGTON

This was the first of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals issued in 1973.

Carl Paul Jennewein was a sculptor, trustee and chairman at Brookgreen Gardens and designed the first issue in the member medal series.

The medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 1

The obverse bears General George Washington kneeling in prayer, horse behind; above, thirteen stars in circle. Around, TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; in exergue, 1776 - 1976; signed above exergue at right, J. KISELEWSKI

The reverse bears scene from Brookgreen Gardens, live oaks and sculpture with pathways. At bottom, BROOKGREEN / GARDENS

This was the fourth of the prestigious Brookgreen Gardens member medals, issued in the United States' bicentennial year, 1976.

The medal measures 76mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company. No mintage is reported.

References:   BG 4

References:   BG 35