Witnesses: émigré medallists in Britain

Strangely interesting exhibition at the British Museum looking at the role of emigrants to Britain in designing medals both in the Renaissance and Second World War periods.

I must admit even I approached this small display with trepidation but the commentary made it really interesting and there were some lovely pieces on show as well as great quotes from the artists about what it was like to live in England and from the English about the emigrants.

One of the earliest medalists in Britain was Jacopo de Trezzo who arrived with the court of Philip II of Spain. There were some fine Renaissance pieces.

As interesting was the section on artists who arrived in Britain as refugees of the Nazi’s in the 1930s. I loved the work of Fritz Kormis who produced medals of Churchill and Laurence Olivier. Also Paul Vincze’s piece showing cupid as an air raid warden as well as his retirement medals for retirees from the museum’s own coins department.

My favourite piece was the one in the attached picture by Nicholas Briot which commemorated the return of Charles I to London after his Scottish coronation and shows the old St Pauls.

Closes on 14 April 2019

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