Artist: Victoria (1837-1901), ruler - Queen of Great Britain 1837-1901; Date(s): 1878; Classification(s): medal, medals, prize, Britain, W. WYON R.A.; Acquisition: given by Watson, Philip Charles, 2005-01-31 [CM.86-2005]
Description: The National Art Training School in South Kensington was the premier artistic school of Victorian England, although its teaching was criticised at the time for the lengths of time taken over small pieces. Nonetheless places were extremely difficult to attain and the prestige of a qualification from there considerable. The organisation now exists, under somewhat different principles, as the Royal College of Art. Whatever the ideals of the National Art Training School, particular success by them could earn its students prize medals, and this piece is a bronze specimen of one such medal by William Wyon. Its edge is marked "159" but there is no other indication of a recipient. It came to the Museum from the collection of Wyon's descendant Allan Gairdner Wyon, and so is likely to have remained in the designer's workshop to be passed on at his death.
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