In Peace Sons Bury Their Fathers [obverse]

1937

Chester Beach (designer), Medallic Art Company (manufacturer)

Associated Names
Chester Beach

Designer, American, 1881 - 1956

Medallic Art Company

Manufacturer, American, est. 1910 - closed 2016

The sculpture on the medal depicts several male figures carrying a shrouded figure on a bier. The figures are nude, showcasing detailed musculature. The material appears to be a bronze-like metal with a warm hue. Surrounding the central imagery is the inscription "IN PEACE SONS BURY THEIR FATHERS." The composition is compact and circular, fitting the shape of the medal.
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Artwork overview

Associated Artworks

The sculpture on the medal depicts an aged man carrying the lifeless body of a younger man on his back. The man uses a staff for support as he moves over fallen bodies. The figures are raised from the surface of the medal, giving them a dimensional quality. The material of the sculpture resembles bronze with a warm, earthy brown color. The surface includes an inscription in raised letters stating "IN WAR THE FATHERS BURY THEIR SONS." In the background, there are two airplanes depicted in flight and stylized elements suggesting a landscape or battle scene. The composition provides a slightly diagonal three-dimensional perspective for the viewer.

In War the Fathers Bury their Sons [reverse]

Chester Beach, Medallic Art Company

1937

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Gift 1937 to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, through subscription to the Society of Medalists (Sixteenth Issue); acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

lower left: BEACH / © 1937; around circumference: .IN PEACE SONS BURY THEIR FATHERS.

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