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The Milan International Exhibition 1906

Medal
1906 (dated)
Artist/Maker

This bronze medal was issued at the occasion of the Milan International Exhibition, held in 1906.

The obverse side shows the personification of Science represented as a draped and seated female figure with her left hand resting on a book. She kisses the brow of Labour, represented as a nude male figure, who bends before her, his right hand grasping a mallet. In the background a laurel spreads its branches so as to form an arbour. The back of the medal shows a laurel shrub and the exposition buildings in the background.

The medallist Castiglioni Giannino was trained at the company Stabilimento Stefano Johnson, which was a die-sinking and casting firm. Many of his medals were cast there.

This medal for the Milan International Exposition in 1906 is a very well-composed work and remains one of his strongest. He was very skilled also in doing portraiture showing with great accuracy the physical attributes of his subjects.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Milan International Exhibition 1906 (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Medal, bronze, The Milan International Exhibition, 1906, siged Castiglioni Giannino, executed by S. Johnson - C.A. INC., dated 1906
Physical description
Medal depicts on the obverse: LABOR SCIENTIAE AVXILIO GLORIAM CONSEQVITVR. Science in the guise of a partly draped female figure, seated, her left hand resting on a book, kisses the brow of Labour, a nude male figure, who bends before her, his right hand grasping a mallet; in the background a laurel spreads its branches so as to form a kind of arbour.
On the reverse: ESPOSIZIONE INTERNATIONALE MILANO 1906. A laurel shrub, with exhibition buildings in the background. Sighed S. JOHNSON - C A. (in monogram) INC.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 6.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'LABOR SCIENTIAE AVXILIO GLORIAM CONSEQVITVR' (obverse)
  • 'ESPOSIZIONE INTERNATIONALE MILANO 1906' (reverse)
  • 'S. JOHNSON - C A. (in mongram) INC.' (reverse)
Object history
Given by the British Commission for the Milan International Exhibition, 1906.
Production
executed by S. Johnson - C.A. INC.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This bronze medal was issued at the occasion of the Milan International Exhibition, held in 1906.

The obverse side shows the personification of Science represented as a draped and seated female figure with her left hand resting on a book. She kisses the brow of Labour, represented as a nude male figure, who bends before her, his right hand grasping a mallet. In the background a laurel spreads its branches so as to form an arbour. The back of the medal shows a laurel shrub and the exposition buildings in the background.

The medallist Castiglioni Giannino was trained at the company Stabilimento Stefano Johnson, which was a die-sinking and casting firm. Many of his medals were cast there.

This medal for the Milan International Exposition in 1906 is a very well-composed work and remains one of his strongest. He was very skilled also in doing portraiture showing with great accuracy the physical attributes of his subjects.
Bibliographic reference
List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1905 - 1908. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1908, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, 1909, p. 11
Collection
Accession number
52-1908

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Record createdFebruary 20, 2009
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