Medallion
1616-1620 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Small portraits like these were often hung from ribbons and worn as personal decoration. Painted miniatures were common in England and royal personages sometimes gave them to favoured courtiers. The making of silver medallions such as these was a contemporary Dutch practice.
People
Frederick V (1596-1632), Elector Palatine of the Rhine, married Elizabeth (1596-1662), the eldest daughter of James I of England (ruled 1603-1625), in 1613. He was offered the Crown of Bohemia in 1618. This medal was probably made before 1617, when the couple's second son, Charles, was born.
Simon de Passe (?1595-1647) was born in Cologne and worked as an engraver in Utrecht in The Netherlands. He spent some time in Copenhagen working for Christian IV, King of Denmark-Norway (ruled 1588-1648). In England he received orders from James I to produce a series of portrait medallions in silver, perhaps as gifts for courtiers. One at least is dated 1616 and the series was completed by 1619.
Design & Designing
Engravers such as Simon de Passe would often copy or adapt the work of others as well as producing their own designs. For example, his medallion of Elizabeth I (ruled 1558-1603) is copied from a painted miniature by Isaac Oliver (about 1558-1617).
Learning to engrave on metal or plate was often seen as a way to train for other trades such as printing or book illustration. The English artist William Hogarth (1697-1764) began his career as a plate-engraver before moving on to painting.
Small portraits like these were often hung from ribbons and worn as personal decoration. Painted miniatures were common in England and royal personages sometimes gave them to favoured courtiers. The making of silver medallions such as these was a contemporary Dutch practice.
People
Frederick V (1596-1632), Elector Palatine of the Rhine, married Elizabeth (1596-1662), the eldest daughter of James I of England (ruled 1603-1625), in 1613. He was offered the Crown of Bohemia in 1618. This medal was probably made before 1617, when the couple's second son, Charles, was born.
Simon de Passe (?1595-1647) was born in Cologne and worked as an engraver in Utrecht in The Netherlands. He spent some time in Copenhagen working for Christian IV, King of Denmark-Norway (ruled 1588-1648). In England he received orders from James I to produce a series of portrait medallions in silver, perhaps as gifts for courtiers. One at least is dated 1616 and the series was completed by 1619.
Design & Designing
Engravers such as Simon de Passe would often copy or adapt the work of others as well as producing their own designs. For example, his medallion of Elizabeth I (ruled 1558-1603) is copied from a painted miniature by Isaac Oliver (about 1558-1617).
Learning to engrave on metal or plate was often seen as a way to train for other trades such as printing or book illustration. The English artist William Hogarth (1697-1764) began his career as a plate-engraver before moving on to painting.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, engraved and possibly cast |
| Brief description | Medallion with plaque depicting Elizabeth & Frederick of Bohemia and their infant son Prince Frederick, made in London by Simon van de Passe, 1616-1620 |
| Physical description | Plaque, Elizabeth of Bohemia Etc. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Signed 'Simon Pass. fecit London' |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
PORTRAIT MEDALLIONS OF THE ROYAL FAMILY James I probably commissioned these portrait medallions as gifts for favoured courtiers. Although the custom of presenting painted miniatures of the royal image was long-established in England, wearing silver portraits suspended on ribbons was a Dutch practice. The Infanta Maria of Austria appears in this group because, at the time it was made, a marriage between her and Charles, Prince of Wales was being negotiated.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made in London by Simon van de Passe (born in Cologne, Germany, possibly in 1595, died in Copenhagen, 1647) MEDALLION of Frederick Elector Palatine of the Rhine (1596-1632), Elizabeth of Bohemia, the Electress (1596-1662) and their infant son Prince Frederick (1614-1629) |
| Summary | Object Type Small portraits like these were often hung from ribbons and worn as personal decoration. Painted miniatures were common in England and royal personages sometimes gave them to favoured courtiers. The making of silver medallions such as these was a contemporary Dutch practice. People Frederick V (1596-1632), Elector Palatine of the Rhine, married Elizabeth (1596-1662), the eldest daughter of James I of England (ruled 1603-1625), in 1613. He was offered the Crown of Bohemia in 1618. This medal was probably made before 1617, when the couple's second son, Charles, was born. Simon de Passe (?1595-1647) was born in Cologne and worked as an engraver in Utrecht in The Netherlands. He spent some time in Copenhagen working for Christian IV, King of Denmark-Norway (ruled 1588-1648). In England he received orders from James I to produce a series of portrait medallions in silver, perhaps as gifts for courtiers. One at least is dated 1616 and the series was completed by 1619. Design & Designing Engravers such as Simon de Passe would often copy or adapt the work of others as well as producing their own designs. For example, his medallion of Elizabeth I (ruled 1558-1603) is copied from a painted miniature by Isaac Oliver (about 1558-1617). Learning to engrave on metal or plate was often seen as a way to train for other trades such as printing or book illustration. The English artist William Hogarth (1697-1764) began his career as a plate-engraver before moving on to painting. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 126-1865 |
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| Record created | April 9, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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