The Waterloo Medal

Benedetto Pistrucci

model begun 1819, electrotype produced 1849–52 · Bronze electrotype · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

The profiles are those of the monarchs whose allied forces defeated Napoleon: Frederick William III of Prussia, Alexander I of Russia, Francis II of Austria, and George III of England. Pistrucci's Waterloo Medal was and epic medallic achievement; because of its exceptional size and attention to detail, it took him thirty years to cut the steel dies from which only electrotype examples were struck.

Artist

Benedetto Pistrucci

Date

model begun 1819, electrotype produced 1849–52

Medium

Bronze electrotype

Culture

British

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of Assunta Sommella Peluso, Ada Peluso, and Romano I. Peluso, in memory of Ignazio Peluso, 2005