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Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Gray

Medal
1863 (made)
Artist/Maker
Adams, George Gammon (signed)
Place of origin
England (made)

This medal depicts the busts of Mr and Mrs Gray. John Edward Gray (1800-1875) was a zoologist. He studied medicine, with first interests in botany, later zoology. He worked at the British Museum in the zoology department from 1824 till 1874 and became keeper of the department there in 1840.
His wife Maria Emma (1787-1876) was a conchologist and algologist.

The medallist George Gammon Adams (b. 1821-1898) was a portrait sculptor and medallist. He designed and exhibited prize medals for the Great Exhibition. In 1852 he was chosen to model the death mask of Wellington. One of his public monuments is the 'Napier' statue in Trafalgar square.


Object details

Categories
Coins & Medals
Portraits
Sculpture
Object type
Medal
TitlePortraits of Mr. and Mrs. Gray (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Medal, bronze, portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Gray, signed G.G. Adams, English, 1863
Physical description
Medal depicts on the obverse the conjoined busts of Mr and Mrs Gray, facing to the right with inscription. On the reverse is a wreath with an inscription.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 5.08cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'TRUST / IN THE LORD / AND DO GOOD' (Inscribed on the reverse)
  • 'I. E. AND M. E. GRAY' (Inscribed on obverse.)
  • 'G. G. ADAMS, Sc. 1863' (Signed and dated on the obverse.)
Object history
Given by Dr. Gray in 1863.
Subjects depicted
Wreath
Gray, John Edward
Gray
Summary
This medal depicts the busts of Mr and Mrs Gray. John Edward Gray (1800-1875) was a zoologist. He studied medicine, with first interests in botany, later zoology. He worked at the British Museum in the zoology department from 1824 till 1874 and became keeper of the department there in 1840.
His wife Maria Emma (1787-1876) was a conchologist and algologist.

The medallist George Gammon Adams (b. 1821-1898) was a portrait sculptor and medallist. He designed and exhibited prize medals for the Great Exhibition. In 1852 he was chosen to model the death mask of Wellington. One of his public monuments is the 'Napier' statue in Trafalgar square.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1863. 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. 39
  • Brown, Lawrence. British Historical Medals 1837-1901 - The Reign of Queen Victoria. London: 1987, cat.no. 2787
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
8970-1863

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O311829/portraits-of-mr-and-mrs-medal-adams-george-gammon/
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