Designs for coins and medals by William Wyon (1795–1851) and his circle
Resource type
Journal article
Creator (person)
Hockenhull, Tom
Date published
2023
Abstract
In 2020 the British Museum acquired two folios of drawings consisting of designs for coins, medals, seals and decorations as well as portrait and life studies. Numbering more than 150 separate drawings, they feature works attributed to leading British sculptural artists and designers of the first half of the 19th century, including John Flaxman, William Wyon, Henry Corbould, Edward Henry Corbould, Francis Leggatt Chantrey, William Dyce, Thomas Lawrence, Thomas Stothard, John Rogers Herbert, Henry Pickersgill and others.1 The folios were probably assembled by William Wyon (1795–1851), who was employed by the Royal Mint as assistant engraver in 1816, and promoted to chief engraver from 1828 until his death in 1851. Although they remained part of the library of Birmingham Assay Office for more than a century, the folios have not previously featured in studies of Wyon. This article offers an introduction and catalogue to the drawings, linking those for coins and medals to extant works by Wyon and testing the credibility of the attributions. Contextualising the drawings within nineteenth century British coin and medal design, it assesses how they enhance our understanding of Wyon’s work and working practices.
Journal title
The British Art Journal
Volume
24
Issue
2
Place of publication
London
ISSN
1467-2006
Official URL
Keywords