Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 52, The George Levy Gallery

Martin Folkes

Medal
1740 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This medal was one in a series of 13 celebrating famous contemporaries living in England (others included Alexander Pope, Robert Walpole and Sir Hans Sloane), executed by the Swiss artist Jacques-Antoine Dassier (1715-1759) during his stay in England between 1740 and 1745. These medals were sold at 7s 6d each (37.5p). They were struck in Geneva from dies made in England, according to the contemporary commentator George Vertue, either because the necessary equipment was not available in England, or because it was cheaper.

People
Dr Martin Folkes (1690-1754) was an antiquary and collector, who was also to be portrayed by the sculptor Louis François Roubiliac in a memorable marble bust of 1749 (Wilton House, Wiltshire). Folkes was a distinguished scientist and antiquarian, serving as President of the Royal Society between 1741 and 1753, and as President of the Society of Antiquaries from 1750.

Born in Geneva, Dassier was the son of a medallist, Jean Dassier (1676-1763), and trained under the celebrated Paris goldsmith Thomas Germain (1673-1748). He then travelled to Italy, where he worked and studied in Rome and Turin, and came to London in 1740. He stayed in the capital until 1745, when he returned to Geneva. He later worked in Russia, dying in Copenhagen during his return either to Switzerland or England.

Materials & Making
This medal was struck from a die, although it may have originated from a wax model. Certainly the softness and sensitivity of the forms suggest that the original was in wax. Dassier specialised in struck medals, being appointed assistant engraver at the Royal Mint during his time in London. This example is in bronze; other versions are partly gilt bronze.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMartin Folkes
Materials and techniques
Cast bronze
Brief description
Medal depicting Martin Folkes, by Jacques Antoine Dassier, London, 1740
Physical description
Medal, bronze. Obverse, bust of Martin Folkes, antiquary (1690-1754) to right. Inscription: MARTINUS FOLKES ARM. R. Signed: JA. ANT. DASSIER. Reverse, Inscription, SOCIETATIE REGALIS LONDINI SODALIS. M. DCC. XL.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 5.2cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 24/03/2000 by LM
Gallery label
British Galleries: From the Renaissance onwards medals had formed an important category of portraiture, representing individual likenesses in the manner of ancient Roman coins. This medal of Martin Folkes (1690-1754), an antiquarian with an interest in coins, was one of a series of portraits of famous men living in England made by the Swiss-born medallist, Jacques-Antoine Dassier.(27/03/2003)
Object history
Made in London by Jacques-Antoine Dassier (born in Geneva, Switzerland, 1715, died in Copenhagen, 1759)
Subject depicted
Summary
Object Type
This medal was one in a series of 13 celebrating famous contemporaries living in England (others included Alexander Pope, Robert Walpole and Sir Hans Sloane), executed by the Swiss artist Jacques-Antoine Dassier (1715-1759) during his stay in England between 1740 and 1745. These medals were sold at 7s 6d each (37.5p). They were struck in Geneva from dies made in England, according to the contemporary commentator George Vertue, either because the necessary equipment was not available in England, or because it was cheaper.

People
Dr Martin Folkes (1690-1754) was an antiquary and collector, who was also to be portrayed by the sculptor Louis François Roubiliac in a memorable marble bust of 1749 (Wilton House, Wiltshire). Folkes was a distinguished scientist and antiquarian, serving as President of the Royal Society between 1741 and 1753, and as President of the Society of Antiquaries from 1750.

Born in Geneva, Dassier was the son of a medallist, Jean Dassier (1676-1763), and trained under the celebrated Paris goldsmith Thomas Germain (1673-1748). He then travelled to Italy, where he worked and studied in Rome and Turin, and came to London in 1740. He stayed in the capital until 1745, when he returned to Geneva. He later worked in Russia, dying in Copenhagen during his return either to Switzerland or England.

Materials & Making
This medal was struck from a die, although it may have originated from a wax model. Certainly the softness and sensitivity of the forms suggest that the original was in wax. Dassier specialised in struck medals, being appointed assistant engraver at the Royal Mint during his time in London. This example is in bronze; other versions are partly gilt bronze.
Bibliographic references
  • Snodin, Michael (ed.), Rococo : art and design in Hogarth's England, London : Trefoil Books, 1984 no. S18
  • Eisler, William, "The Construction of the Image of Martin Folkes (1690-1754) Part I: Art, science and Masonic sociability in the age of the Grand Tour", The Medal, no. 58 (Spring 2011), pp. 4-29, p. 8 ill. 7.
Collection
Accession number
A.11-1971

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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