This is one of thirteen medals issued by the Art-Union of London with the intention of assisting in the encouragement of metal-die engraving, inaugurated in 1842. The series is illustrating the history of British Art. The medals, which were specially commissioned, were issued annually to members of the Art-Union.
The sitter William Chambers was a leading architect and designer. He travelled widely, visiting China, and studied architecture at the Ecole des Arts, Paris, from 1749 and in Italy from 1750 to 1755. Many of his drawings from this period are contained in his important 'Franco-Italian' album, held in the V&A. Chambers moved to London in 1755 and published his influential Treatise on Civil Architecture in 1759. Chambers demonstrated the breadth of his style in buildings such as Gower (later Carrington) House and Melbourne House, London, in such country houses as Duddingston, Scotland, and in the garden architecture he designed for Wilton House, Wiltshire, and at Kew Gardens. He became head of government building in 1782, and in this capacity built Somerset House, London.