KELLER, JOHANN BALTHASAR (Swiss). A celebrated Founder, born at Zurich in 1638, died at Paris in 1702. He was first apprenticed as a Goldsmith and is said to have been very clever at chasing. On the invitation of his elder brother, JOHANN JAKOB (born at Zurich 1635, † at Colmar 1700), who was already in the service of Louis XIV., he went over to France, and for many years the two brothers carried on their profession in Paris, partly in an official capacity. They were employed to cast guns in the Arsenal, and numerous statues which yet adorn the Parterre d'eau and surrounding avenues in the Versailles gardens. For the city of Lyons, they executed a statue of Louis XIV. which was erected on the Place Bellecour, and for Paris, Johann Balthasar did that of the Place Vendôme, which was" demolished at the Revolution. Les Keller " were recognized during their life-time as the most important artistic founders of France, and in our own days a certain kind of casting metal composed of 90 % of copper and 10 % of alloy is known as " fonte Keller". Johann Balthasar Keller is said to have cast reproductions of large medallions and plaques. His signature J. B. KELLER occurs on a reproduction of G. Dupré's Portrait-medal of Francesco IV. Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, 1654 (described by Mazerolle, Les Médailleurs francais, II, p. 134), and other productions are signed : KELLER or K. Herr F. O. Pestalozzi however expresses doubt as to the correct attribution of these medals, and writes to me : " Die Angabe bei Füssli, dass der Giesser J. Balth. Keller ursprünglich Goldschmid gewesen sei (u. somit die fragliche Medaille —zumal im Alter von erst 16 Jahren —gegossen haben könnte) ist mir sehr zweifelhaft geworden, denn er fehlt ganz in den zürcherischen Meisterbüchern. Hat er den Beruf gelernt, musste er aus der Lehre genommen worden sein, oder dann liegt Verwechslung vor, mit Goldschmid Hans Balthasar, der 1590 Meister geworden ist. Ob dieser die Medaille gegossen haben kann, ist natürlich auch wieder dubios". “ Les deux Keller ", says De La Tour ", Jean Jacques et Jean Balthazar, ont donné des fontes irréprochables ; il y a, faites d'un bronze qu'on croirait antique et signées d'eux, des médailles de Guillaume Dupré que celui-ci n'aurait pas désavouées ". Bibliography. — Fuessli, Geschichte der besten Künstler in d. Schweiz. — F. O. Pestalozzi, Zürcher Taschenbuch für 1905 ;& in Schweiz Künstlerlexicon. — N. Rondot & H. De La Tour, op. cit.
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
JOHN, WILLIAM GOSCOMBE
JOHN, WILLIAM GOSCOMBE (Brit.). Contemporary Sculptor and Medallist, born at Cardiff; Associate of the Royal Academy. “The son of the sculptural carver to the late Marquess of Bute, Mr. John early followed his father's craft ", says Mr. Spielmann. “ In 1882 he left Cardiff for London, obtained employment with Farmer and Brindley's, and attended Mr. Frith's class at Lambeth. In 1884 he entered the Royal Academy Schools, but, after a successful career, he failed to secure the gold medal with his g...
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JOHN, WILLIAM GOSCOMBE (Brit.). Contemporary Sculptor and Medallist, born at Cardiff; Associate of the Royal Academy. “The son of the sculptural carver to the late Marquess of Bute, Mr. John early followed his father's craft ", says Mr. Spielmann. “ In 1882 he left Cardiff for London, obtained employment with Farmer and Brindley's, and attended Mr. Frith's class at Lambeth. In 1884 he entered the Royal Academy Schools, but, after a successful career, he failed to secure the gold medal with his g...
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JOHNSON, STEFANO
JOHNSON, STEFANO (Ital.). Die-sinking establishment at Milan, founded in 1868 by Stefano Johnson, father of the actual proprietor, Commendatore Federigo Johnson, who since 1880, has the complete direction of the Works, and who gave the firm its present importance and extension. Furnished with up-to-date machinery, a reducing-machine of the latest type and a chemical laboratory for the colouring of metals, the Johnson works are able to cope with the keenest competition inland and abroad. Not a sm...
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JOHNSON, STEFANO (Ital.). Die-sinking establishment at Milan, founded in 1868 by Stefano Johnson, father of the actual proprietor, Commendatore Federigo Johnson, who since 1880, has the complete direction of the Works, and who gave the firm its present importance and extension. Furnished with up-to-date machinery, a reducing-machine of the latest type and a chemical laboratory for the colouring of metals, the Johnson works are able to cope with the keenest competition inland and abroad. Not a sm...
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JONES, JOHN
JONES, JOHN (Brit.). Medallist of the nineteenth century, who died at Dublin, circa 1880. " He would deserve slight notice except for his continuing to strike medals trom Mossop's designs and dies after the death of that artist. He is reported to have come from Liverpool, and commenced his career by pulling the rope for Mossop's Coining press. At one period of his life he went to America and made some money. Strange stories are told of the mode in which he dissipated his earnings ". The followin...
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JONES, JOHN (Brit.). Medallist of the nineteenth century, who died at Dublin, circa 1880. " He would deserve slight notice except for his continuing to strike medals trom Mossop's designs and dies after the death of that artist. He is reported to have come from Liverpool, and commenced his career by pulling the rope for Mossop's Coining press. At one period of his life he went to America and made some money. Strange stories are told of the mode in which he dissipated his earnings ". The followin...
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JONGHELINCK, JACQUES
JONGHELINCK, JACQUES (Belg.). Medallist, Seal-engraver, Sculptor and Caster of bronze statues, born at Antwerp, 21. October 1530, died there, 31. May 1606. As early as 1556, he was entrusted with the cutting of seals for various chanceries of Philip II. 's government and, in 1559, he executed the monument erected at Bruges to the memory of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. He is also the author of a colossal statue of the Duke of Alva in the centre of Antwerp citadel, which was destroyed some ...
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JONGHELINCK, JACQUES (Belg.). Medallist, Seal-engraver, Sculptor and Caster of bronze statues, born at Antwerp, 21. October 1530, died there, 31. May 1606. As early as 1556, he was entrusted with the cutting of seals for various chanceries of Philip II. 's government and, in 1559, he executed the monument erected at Bruges to the memory of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. He is also the author of a colossal statue of the Duke of Alva in the centre of Antwerp citadel, which was destroyed some ...
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