Friday 2 October 2015

Medallions of English Worthies by Jean Dassier (1676 - 1763).




The Medallions of English Worthies c 1733. 
by Jean Dassier (1676 - 1763).
Bronze Medallions circa 1733.

All images courtesy Ben Weiss - I am very grateful for his support and assistance.
I would like to thank Professor Ben Weiss, Emeritus Professor of Pharmacology and Physiology
Drexel University College of Medicine,
 for allowing me to reproduce the photographs and captions and for his support for this project.

A visit to his website is essential for anyone interested in pre 19th century European Medallions.





William Shakespeare
by Jean Dassier, c. 1733.
43mm. diam.

Obv: Bust of Shakespeare (Facing)     GUILIELMUS SHAKESPEARE.
Rev: Mountainscape with meandering river     WILD ABOVE RULE OR ART
Exergue:  NAT.1564.
Ref: Med. Ill. i, 208/42; Forrer I, p.516 (Illustrated); Eisler I,  283/1; Thompson 39/01










Francis Bacon, Lord Verulam (1561 - 1626)
by Jean Dassier, c.1733
42 mm diam.

Obv: Bust of Bacon    FRANCISC. BACON.
Rev: Aurora, holding a star-studded veil and floating on a cloud, approaches the earth. Behind are rays of the rising sun     NON PROCUL DIES (Day is not distant)
Exergue:  NAT.1560. M.1626.
Signed: I. D. F.
    Ref: M.I. i, 245/14; Eisler I, 283/2a; Thompson 40/02;  Eimer 37/107











John Milton (1608 - 1674).
by Jean Dassier, c 1733.
43 mm diam.

Obv: Bust of Milton    IOANNES MILTON
Rev: Adam and Eve in front of tree laden with apples, with a serpent winding around tree. Wolves are devouring a flock of sheep and birds of prey are diving from sky. Lightening flashes signal the entrance of the Furies into Paradise (scene from Paradise Lost)    DIRA DULCE CANIT ALTER HOMERUS. (A Second Homer Sweetly Sings Direful Events)
Signed:  I.D.
    Ref: M.I., i 564/229; Eimer, 52/254; Eisler I, 284/5a; Thompson 41/04









John Locke
by Jean Dassier, c.1733.
Bronze 43 mm. diam.
Badminton enthusiast.

The medallic portrait corresponds to that of Locke in an oval frame by Kneller of 1697 in the Hermitage, St. Petersburg. (Eisler)

Obv: Bust of Locke    IOHANNES LOCKE.
Rev: Liberty (Toleration) and Justice (Civil Government) seated upon a sarcophagus. Below is a putto reading; playthings scattered about
Exergue:  M. 1704
Signed:  J.D.
Ref: M.I. ii, 271/72; Eimer 68/413; Storer 2245; Freeman 162/328; Eisler I, 285/6c; Thompson 41/05














John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650 -1722).
Jean Dassier. c.1733
Bronze 43 mm. diam.

Obv: Bust of Marlborough    IOHAN. CHURC. DUX MARLB. (John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough)
Rev: Victory, holding a wreath and palm, stands between military trophies    VBI ADERAT IBI VICTORIA. (Where He Was Present, There Was Victory)
Exergue:  OB. 27.JUN. 1722. NAT. ANN. 74. (Died 27 June 1722, Aged 74)
Signed:  J.D.
   
Ref: M.I.. ii, 457/68 (Ill.); Eimer 76/495; Eisler I, 285/7; Thompson 42/06;  Harding 59












Samuel Clarke
by Jean Dassier. c 1733
Bronze 43 mm. diam.
Obv: Bust of Clark    SAMUEL CLARKE.
Rev: A student ascending a rocky path to the top of a mountain toward Truth pointing toward the radiated name of Jehovah, in Hebrew    QUO VERITAS VOCAT. (Where Truth Calls)
Signed:  J. DASSIER. F.
From Jean Dassier's Series, The British Worthies.
Ref: M.I. ii, 490/31; Eimer 78/518; Eisler I, 287/10b; Thompson 43/08
Copyright © 2003-2015 Benjamin Weiss
All Rights Reserved




_______________________________________











John Selden (1584 - 1654).
by Jean Dassier. c 1733
Bronze 52.7mm diam.

Milton hailed Selden in 1644 as "the chief of learned men reputed in this land."

For a good, brief biog of Selden see - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Selden