Summary

Bronze art medal titled 'Shakespeare Statue Unveiling, Ballarat' by Melbourne sculptor Michael Meszaros, 1960. Michael's father, sculptor Andor Mészáros, was commissioned by the City of Ballarat to create a statue honouring William Shakespeare. Meszaros, then 15 years old, decided to commemorate the unveiling of the statue with this medal. He was responsible for the modelling of the figure, but his father helped with the lettering.

Physical Description

Bronze medal with obverse design of a man in Elizabethan dress bowing while holding a roll of paper.

Obverse Description

Statue of William Shakespeare by Andor Meszaros. At left , THE STATUE OF / SHAKESPEARE / BALLAARAT / UNVEILED BY / A. W. NICHOLSON, / MAYOR / 17.11.1960. At right of sculpture , MICHAEL / MESZAROS / [incised family symbol - abstracted unicorn bull looking backwards over its shoulder]

Reverse Description

Plain

Significance

This is one of 44 art medals in the Museum's collection by Michael Meszaros, dated from 1960 through to 1987, which chart the evolution of a new phase of the medal tradition in Australia. While Australian medals have previously largely been commissioned works associated with official commemorations or major awards, these are personal artworks. In addition to their aesthetic value, they document nearly two decades of Australian life from a personal and popular point of view, drawing on cultural trends, sporting and leisure, and emerging issues such as environmentalism. This is a modern development in Australia, but it harks back to the European tradition, developed in the Renaissance, of medals as artistic works.

For over half a century, sculptors Andor (1900-1973) and Michael (1945- ) Meszaros have created medals that reflect the high points of life in Australia. From major awards and portraits of eminent Australians to artwork celebrating popular culture and the natural world, these objects illuminate our culture and history. Grounded in a centuries-old European art tradition, the medals create connections across disciplines and link such diverse subjects as scientific advances, religious themes, sport, the performing arts and motherhood. Through their public and private commissions and their personal artworks, the Meszaros sculptors have defined the modern Australian medal.

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