Oeuvre Du Chevalier Hedlinger Ou Recueil Des Medailles De Ce Celebre Artiste, gravées en taille douce, accompagnées d'une explication historique et critique, et précédées de la vie de l'Auteur. Dedie A S. M. Gustave III Roi De Suede, Par Chretien De Mechel, Graveur et Membre de diverses Academies.
Recueil Des Medailles
Explication Historique Et Critique Des Médailles De L'OEuvre Du Chevalier Hedlinger
Imprint
à Basle: MDCCLXXVI. {- MDCCLXXVIII.)
Physical Description
2 vols. in 1; 353 mm. (Folio).
General Note
Pt. [1]: Engr. t.-pl., engr. dedic., 39 pl. - Pt. [2]: xxxiv, [2], 64 p. In some sets the two parts are not bound together.
Contents
Pt. [1]: [T.-pl., dedic., pl.] - Pt. [2]: [Half-t., t.-p.] - Eloge Historique Du Chevalier J. C. Hedlinger - Explication Des Ornemens - Introduction À L'Explication - [Text] - Table Des Matières; [colophon].
Responsibility Note
No plate carries a signature. The headpiece of the Eloge is signed as drawn by J. T. Preisler of Nuremberg and 'directed' by Mechel; its tailpiece also is signed as directed by Mechel.
The colophon supplies the name of the printer, Jean Schweighauser, and that of the type-founder, Guillaume Haas.
The work is dedicated by Mechel to King Gustav III of Sweden.
References
P. Felder, Médailleur Johann Carl Hedlinger, 1691-1771 (1978); M. Jones, The art of the medal (1979); L. Forrer, Biographical dictionary of medallists, 8 v. (1902-30).
Summary Note
One part consists of plates; the other, of letter-press text. The text has its own half-title and title-page, which reads, 'Explication Historique Et Critique Des Médailles De L'OEuvre Du Chevalier Hedlinger Précédée De L'Éloge Historique De Ce Célèbre Artiste. Par Chretien De Mechel, Graveur De S. A. S. Monseigneur L'Électeur Palatin Et Membre De Diverses Académies. Dédié A Sa Majesté Gustave III. Roi De Suède. À Basle chez L'Auteur. MDCCLXXVIII.'
The plates and their Explication are divided into 'Sujets Suedois' (pl. 1-29) and 'Sujets Divers' (pl. 30-39). The former include heads of King Frederick, contemporary and historical Swedish notables and Hedlinger himself. The latter consist chiefly of heads of European monarchs, including George II of Britain (pl. 33).
In the eighteenth century medals, generally designed in ancient Greek and Roman styles, were valued as portraits, commemorative and propagandist works and prizes, and were often issued to mark scientific and other advances. The art of the medallist was regularly displayed in the Royal Academy's annual exhibitions and in the Paris Salons.
Provenance
Acquired by 1802. Recorded in A Catalogue Of The Library In The Royal Academy, London (1802).