artist.shtml medals robert-i-aitken

Robert I Aitken

You can click on the medals to see the reverse.

See No Evil, Speak No Evil, Hear No Evil1909

Aitken designed this wall plaque around 1909. Its obverse bears three young women in classic pose, one with hand covering eyes, one with hand covering mouth and one with hand covering ears. Above, legend SEE NO EVIL / SPEAK NO EVIL / HEAR NO EVIL; below to left, signed AITKEN. The reverse bears the copyright notice COPYRIGHT 1909 BY A.B.TEBBS. PAT.APPD.FOR.

This plaque measures 146mm in diameter and is made of a white metal painted in gold. The paint coat on the obverse has mostly come off and remains only as highlights. The plaque was very popular and was manufactured in various sizes and materials. A reproduction is still being made for Museum Stores.

Elisabeth Watrous Medal for Sculpture1914

Aitken designed this medal in 1914 for the National Academy of Design. The obverse bears a rearing pegasus before a stylized sun. Around, THE ELISABETH WATROUS MEDAL FOR SCULPTURE. The reverse bears a bearded man with wings, scythe and hourglass, judging sculpture of torso held in right hand. Below, TEMPUS JUDICAT.

I might be very wrong in my interpretation, but I think that Aitken expresses that time might be the harshest critic of art and that true art not only has to win the contemporary critic's heart but has to withstand the test of time. This interpretation would fit well with his strong artistic conservativsm.

Many thanks to the library of Cornell University which has allowed me to use their high quality image of this medal with the following notice:

Gift of Muriel Doebler-Glaser
Photography courtesy of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University.

National Academy of Design President's Medal1929

The medal's obverse bears helmeted head of Minerva (r.) within assymetrical beaded border. Signed below Minerva's chin, (RA monogram).

The reverse bears an arm aiming a bow and arrow upward through the clouds. Above and below arm, ARTES / AD ASTRA (The arts towards the stars).

The medal is edge marked with MEDALLIC ART CO.N.Y.

This award was established by famous architect Cass Gilbert to be awarded by the Council of the National Academy to persons here or abroad who have made significant contributions to the advacement of the arts. Aitken designed the medal in 1929 but by 1975, the Academy's 150th anniversary, it had only been awarded seven times.

The medal measures 56.7mm (2.25") in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. The mintage is not known.

Omnia Vincit Amor 1937

This medal was chosen as the 15th issue of the prestigious Society of Medalists series in 1937. The obverse bears an artfully draped couple embracing, woman in foreground. Legend reads OMNIA / VINCIT / AMOR (Love conquers all). The reverse bears the same couple as seen from the other side. Legend reads MAN / -KIND / LOVE A / LOVER. Signed AI /TK / EN.

The brochure which accompanied the medal had the following words from the artist:

"In making a medal or medallion the main problem is to add, if possible, to its metallic alloy the one ingredient which makes bronze imperishable - Beauty - Beauty in thought and execution. For Beauty inspires Love - Love creates Beauty."

The medal measures 73mm in diameter and 1,160 pieces were struck in bronze by the Mdallic Art Company of New York. Around 100 silver medals were struck from the same dies in the 1970s.

References: Marqusee 4