Third Centenary of the Protestant Reformation (1535) thumbnail 1
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Third Centenary of the Protestant Reformation (1535)

Medal
1835 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Bovy, Jean François Antoine (medallist)
Place of origin
Switzerland (made)

This medal commemorates the Third Centenary of the Protestant Reformation and is made by the medallist Jean François Antoine Bovy, in Switzerland in 1835.


Object details

Categories
Coins & Medals
Religion
Sculpture
Object type
Medal
TitleThird Centenary of the Protestant Reformation (1535) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Medal, bronze, Third Centenary of the Protestant Reformation (1535), by Jean François Antoine Bovy, Swiss, 1835
Physical description
Obverse: two figures in the centre are holding an open book between them which reads 'BIBLIA SACRA' (Holy bible). Above them is a dove exuding the rays of the Holy Spirit. To the left of the figures the medal is signed. Inscriptions and legends.
Reverse: four male heads in profile of John Calvin and three Calvinists with inscriptions from the top moving clockwise: John Calvin, Peter Viet, Theodore de Beze, William Farel. In the centre there is a crest with semi-eagle crowned and a key and a motto. In the background on the right of the medal there is the cathedral of Geneva. Legend.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 5.9cm
  • Depth: 0.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'BIBLIA SACRA' (obverse, on the book)
  • 'A.BOVY.' 'INV[enit].ETF[ECIT] (obverse)
    Translation
    'invented produced'
  • 'LIBER APERTUS EST QVI EST VITA' [and legend] 'BIBLIA FIDEI ET RATIONI RESTITVTA' (obverse)
    Translation
    'the open book is life' [and] 'the bible of faith and restored knowledge'
  • 'IOHANNES.CALVIN' / 'PERTVS VIRET' / 'THEODORVS DE BEZE' / GVILELM[US] FAREL' (reverse)
  • 'POST TENEBRAS LVX' (reverse)
    Translation
    'light after darkness'
  • 'JVBIL[AEUM].REFORMAT[ionis].RELIG[ONIS].GENEV[AE].TERT[II].SEC[ULI].CELEBR[ATIO].AVG.D.XXIII.AN.MDCCCXXXV' (reverse, legend)
    Translation
    'the worldly celebration of the Jubilee of the Reformation of the religion of Geneva'
Object history
Given by Mrs. Ann Hull-Grundy, in 1978.
Subjects depicted
Book
Figures
Dove
Eagle
Holy Ghost
Summary
This medal commemorates the Third Centenary of the Protestant Reformation and is made by the medallist Jean François Antoine Bovy, in Switzerland in 1835.
Bibliographic references
  • Forrer, L. Biographical Dictionary of Medallists, I, p. 246
  • Thieme-Becker, Allgemeines Lexikon…., I, p. 246
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.144-1978

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O313328/third-centenary-of-the-protestant-medal-bovy-jean-françois/
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