William Wyon: The Artist Who Shaped an Empire


Wyon’s iconic, crowned image of Victoria as a young Queen outdid even the coins. Reproduced on the earliest postage stamps, the ‘penny black’ and its successors, from 1840 until the Queen’s death sixty years later in 1901, they were printed in billions and circulated around the globe. Wyon’s medals, considerable works of art, and beautiful and intriguing in themselves, hold a fascinating mirror to an era of imperial assertion, culminating in the First Opium War and the Great Exhibition of 1851.

This event is held in collaboration with the British Art Medal Society (BAMS) and is supported by the Goldsmiths’ Centre. BAMS, a registered charity, was founded in 1982 to promote the art of the medal through commissions, exhibitions, publications and events. Their latest publication, ‘Making Modern Art Medals’ is available to purchase in our online shop at www.goldsmiths-shop-talent.org

Hours: 6pm - 8pm
Price: £12
Location: Location: The Goldsmiths’ Centre, London
Booking link: https://www.goldsmiths-centre.org/whats-on/triumph-and-disaster-engraver-william-wyons-final-years/


Who is ​Sir Mark Jones?
Sir Mark Jones was a founder member of the British Art Medal Society (BAMS) in 1982. He is a former Curator and Keeper of the Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum and has held many influential positions since, as Director of the National Museums of Scotland; Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum and Master of St. Cross College, Oxford. Most recently Sir Mark was called out of retirement to become Interim Director of The British Museum. He is a renowned expert on medallic history and has published extensively on the subject. His book, The Art of the Medal, remains one of the best introductions to the artform. Mark is currently Chair of the National Trust for Scotland and proprietor of Golden Hare Books in Edinburgh. His life of William Wyon, with a complete catalogue of his work, is due out in the new year.