NEW MEDAL BY WILLIAM WYON.
Tux production of a new medal by WYON now excites as much atten- tion in the world of art as the appearance of a bust by CHANTREY used to do ; though until the fame of the English medallist spread abroad this difficult and delicate art was considered peculiar to the Continent. The medal has this advantage over the bust, that it can be multiplied at little cost ; like a copper or steel plate, the impressions from it are the test of the artist's skill. But the amount of labour and skill that goes to the production of a medal is known but to few : first, there is the invention and arrangement of the designs ; then, the modelling of them in wax ; and last, not least, the execution of the dies. Nor does the art stop here, for the striking of the impressions is a process requiring great nicety and experience. The new medal by Mr. Witirem WYON, of which a proof-impression, in gold, is before us, is a massive one of large dimensions, designed and executed by him for the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society— we presume, to bestow upon persons who have been instrumental in saving lives endangered by shipwreck or accidents at sea. The obverse represents a sailor kneeling on a fragment of a wreck, res- cuing an infant and its mother from drowning; a boat in the dis- tance appears manned by a crew similarly engaged ; and beyond is seen a ship on the horizon. The composition of the principal group and the modelling of the figures are beautiful : the mother with both hands lifts her child above the waves, the sailor supporting her with one hand while with the other he holds the half-dead infant. The modelling of the man and child is exquisite : the vigorous action of the muscles of the back and arms is represented with masterly ana- tomical skill; and the rounded fleshy form of the child by contrast in-
creases the appearance of manly strength. The mother's head and hands only are visible above the water. The style is classic in its sim- plicity and purity ; and the effect of rotundity in the forms is conveyed by the delicacy with which the relief is graduated, so that the outline is not harsh but partakes of the fleshiness of the surface. The distant boat's crew is indicated distinctly, and with an effect of aerial perspective quite marvellous, considering the extent of the actual space between them to be conveyed in a metallic substance by form alone : the liquid undulation of the waves, too, is beautifully represented. The reverse is a crest, encircled by a wreath of oak wrought with great richness and boldness of relief: the effect of " under-cutting" is given ; though of course this is illusion, as the pressure of the die is verticaL Those to whom this medal shall be awarded are to be envied the possession of such a token of their courage and humanity.
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