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Whitemetal medal

Whitemetal medal

  • Place of origin:

    England (made)

  • Date:

    1852 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Allen & Moore (maker)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Zinc

  • Museum number:

    6795-1853

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

This medal by Messrs Allen & Moore was issued at the occasion of Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington's death on September 14th, 1852.

Born in Dublin, 1st May 1769, died at Walmer Castle, Kent, 14th September 1852

Arthur Wellesley, later the 1st Duke of Wellington, was Britain's greatest military commander. His brilliant tactics and leadership brought about major victories over the French in the Peninsular War of 1808-1814 and, most famously, at Waterloo on 18 June 1815. The Duke then became a politician (Prime Minister from 1828-1830) and distinguished elder statesman.

In gratitude for his defeat of Napoleon, European sovereigns showered the Duke with spectacular gifts, notably paintings, porcelain and silver. These form the core of the art collection still at his London home, Apsley House on Hyde Park Corner. The house was originally designed by Robert Adam but was enlarged for the Duke by Benjamin Dean Wyatt. It was presented to the Nation with its contents in 1947, the family retaining apartments.

Physical description

Medal depicts: Obv: uniformed bust of the Duke of Wellington bare head left. 'ARTHUR DUKE OF WELLINGTON' Wreath of oak and laurel on wide border around.
Rev. Crossed flags inscribed ASSAYE and WATERLOO by fronds of palm and laurel draped funerary urn; star above inscription: 'BORN / MAY 1, 1769 / DIED / Sep 14, 1852' - (on a wide border around: 'BOTH AS SOLDIER AND STATESMAN HE EARNED THE TITLE OF FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY'

Place of Origin

England (made)

Date

1852 (made)

Artist/maker

Allen & Moore (maker)

Materials and Techniques

Zinc

Marks and inscriptions

Obv: uniformed bust of the Duke of Wellington bare head left. 'ARTHUR DUKE OF WELLINGTON' Wreath of oak and laurel on wide border around.
Rev. Crossed flags inscribed ASSAYE and WATERLOO by fronds of palm and laurel draped funerary urn; star above inscription: 'BORN / MAY 1, 1769 / DIED / Sep 14, 1852' - (on a wide border around: 'BOTH AS SOLDIER AND STATESMAN HE EARNED THE TITLE OF FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY'

Descriptive line

Medal, zinc, by Messrs Alan & Moore, showing Duke of Wellington, 1852

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Brown, Lawrence. British Historical Medals 1837-1901 - The Reign of Queen Victoria. London: 1987, cat.no. 2474
Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1853. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 43

Materials

Zinc

Categories

Coins & Medals; Death; Portraits; Sculpture

Collection

Sculpture Collection

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