Queen Caroline Watering a Young Palm Tree Grove [reverse]

1736

John Sigismund Tanner

Associated Names
John Sigismund Tanner

Medalist, English, born Germany, active 1728 - 1775

The sculpture on the medal shows a female figure wearing a crown and flowing robes, holding a watering vessel. She is surrounded by young palm trees, set in a natural scene. The medal is made of a metallic material, likely bronze or a similar dark metal, with intricate detailing such as fine lines and folds in the woman's clothing. The inscription above reads "GROWING ARTS ADORN EMPIRE" and below says "CAROLINE PROTECTING" with the date "1736." The rear of the medal has an embossed design on a circular shape.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    silver

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Lisa Unger Baskin

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 3.88 cm (1 1/2 in.)
    gross weight: 20.5 gr (0.045 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    2002.146.17.b

Associated Artworks

The sculpture on the medal features a classical figure, likely Britannia, standing gracefully. She is dressed in draped attire, including a tunic and a helmet with a plume. In her left hand, she holds a spear resting vertically on the ground, and in her right hand, she carries a sprig or branch. Surrounding her are elements like a shield with a face and a helmet, a flag, and classical motifs like laurel branches. The sculpture has a metallic bronze or copper tone typical of engraved metal medals. The inscriptions read "BOTH HANDS FILL'D FOR BRITAIN" and "GEORGE REIGNING." The detailed and embossed work creates depth and texture, with the figures and objects clearly standing out from the background.

Minerva (Jernegan's Lottery Medal) [obverse]

John Sigismund Tanner

1736

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Purchased c. 1960/1985 by Lisa and Leonard Baskin, Leeds, Massachusetts; gift 2002 to NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1969

  • Hawkins, Edward. Medallic Illustrations of the History of Great Britain and Ireland to the Death of George II. 2 vols. London, 1969: 2:517-518, no. 72.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 2:no. 946, repro.

Inscriptions

in exergue: CAROLINE PROTECTING / 1736; around top circumference: GROWING ARTS ADORN EMPIRE.

Wikidata ID

Q63861893

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