LANDRY, FRITZ (Swiss). Painter, Sculptor, Medallist, and Professor of Drawing at Neuchâtel (Switzerland). Born at Le Locle in 1842, his childhood was spent amid surroundings which could not fail to impress his mind with love for art. His father and other members of his family were all watch-case engravers, and from his early youth he was accustomed to use the graving tool. His first laurels were won at the Académie des Beaux-Arts of Geneva. In Paris he studied under the celebrated medallist Antoine Bovy, and afterwards he visited Italy, where the taste for sculpture developed itself in him almost to a passion in studying the works of the Renaissance masters. On his return to his native country, M. Lan dry determined not to imitate, but to create, and to be himself in his own works. This artist's medallic productions are of real merit. His Portraitpieces of Agassiz, the great naturalist, and Fritz Berthoud, the distinguished novelist (illustrated) are treated, according to the personality, either in very bold or low relief. The gifted writer's characteristic head, his picturesque costume and headdress, remind one of the Florentine types of the Renaissance. Agassiz's head is that of the savant ; the lofty forehead denotes the thinker ; the look is that of the keen observer of nature; great kindness and nobility of feelings are revealed by the delineation of the mouth and chin. But to my mind, the artist's Portrait-plaquette of Louis Favre, the life-long professor of literature and spirituel novelist of Neuchâtel, is a still greater success. Treated somewhat in the manner of the Viennese school, this portrait is excellent in every respect, and betrays the long personal acquaintance of the artist with the brilliant and profound scholar, and genial author of the Nouvelles neuchâteloises. M. Landry has surpassed himself. The likness is lifelike, full of expression. As a former pupil of M. Favre, I can spsak for the accuracy of the physiognomy and wonderful rendering of moral traits which are so characteristic in this plaquette. M. Landry is the designer ot the latest Swiss gold coinage, which forms a new departure in the art of coinage. Helvetia is represented with the features of a Swiss maiden, portrayed from nature; in the freshness and energy of her expression, she symbolises a vigorous, valiant, and industrious nation ; her eyes, full of hope, contemplate with pride the lofty summits which have witnessed six centuries of freedom and progress; a true daughter of the Alps, she wears a necklet of edelweiss, which adds grace and charm to the picture. Another charming plaquette by Landry " Sic fugit Tempus" shows the good taste of the artist and allows comparison with the best productions of the French school, without sharing in some of the defects of Charpentier and his imitators. Beside these, the Neuchâtel sculptor has executed many other medals : Louise Ad?le, Portrait-plaquette; — Alfred Bovet, Portraitplaquette; — Edouard Desor, 1811-1882; — Young Girl nursing a doll in her arms; — A. M. Piaget ; — The Neuchâtel Free Church, 1877; — Caisse de famille Meuron ; — Award Medal of the Republic of Neuchâtel ; — The Bourbaki Army Corps interned in Switzerland, 1871 ; — Cantonal Rifle Meeting of Zurich at Albisgütli, Zurich ; — The Aqueduct of Boudry, 1867 ; — Neuchâtel Agricultural Prize Medal, 1861; — Choral Festival at Le Locle, 1861 ; — Federal Rifle Meeting at Chaux-de-Fonds, 5 Franc piece, 1863 ; — Federal F?te of Gymnastics at Neuchâtel, 1862 ; — Inauguration of the Neuchâtel Water-works 1857; — Centenary of Montmirail Pensionnat, 1866; — Inauguration of the Municipal College at Neuchâtel, 1868; — Restoration of the Collegiale at Neuchâtel, 1869; — Federal Choral Festival at Neuchâtel, 1870; — Federal Rifle Meeting at Zurich, 1872, 5 Franc piece; — Federal Choral Festival at Colombier, 1874; — Inauguration of the statue of William Farel at Neuchâtel, 1875 ; — J. F. Osterwald; — David de Purry (2 var.) ; — F. A. de Chambrier; — Daniel Jeanrichard; — A. Desor, &c. The best shots at Swiss federal or cantonal shooting festivals always receive, beside the cups of honour and other prizes, official medals. These had hitherto been, from an artistic point of view, of very commonplace designs — a female holding a carbine, an old Swiss warrior with his arquebuse, William Tell about to shoot the apple off the head of his son, &c. In the medal commemorating the 1898 Federal Tir of Neuchâtel, M. Landry has departed from the old routine, and thus marked a new and thoroughly modern idea of commemorating and representing a great national f?te. Not less than the new twenty-franc piece, this work has been the object of sharp criticism and vigorous attacks, which, however, have not had the effect of discouraging the artist. His production is original in its conception and a great achievement as regards the execution. On the obverse, we find a group of marksmen, civilians, and soldiers, and a realistic representation of the Swiss shooting stands of the nineteenth century, with the modern arms, the different types of riflemen, etc. — in a word, a picture of the Swiss people at its great national festival. This is certainly more worthy of being preserved as an historic record than the repetition of wellknown emblems and mottoes. The reverse, with the armorial shield of Neuch?tel, heraldic eagle, flags, and in the background a view of the castle and mountains behind, has a most picturesque and charming effect. M. Landry deserves high praise for his untiring efforts to improve the style of medallic art ; surely his best reward for years of patient and persevering labour must be the honour of having signed the coinage of his native country, and handed down to future generations for their contemplation truly Swiss productions of high artistic merit. Bibliography. — L. Forrer, A Swiss Medallist : M. F. Landry, Studio, XVII, p. 87. — Bulletin ? Revue suisse de numismatique, 1882-1904. — Tobler-Meyer, op. cit. — Catalogue of the Swiss Coins in the South Kensington Museum. — Dr. H. J. de Dompierre de Chaufepié, Les Medailles et Plaquettes modernes, 1903. — Information kindly furnished by the artist.
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
KRIEGER, ALBRECHT
KRIEGER, ALBRECHT (Germ.). Mint-engraver and Medallist at Leipzig, during the second half of the seventeenth century. His signature A. B. K. occurs on medals of Duke Bernhard II. of Saxony, one of them commemorating his 35th Birthday, 1672, Duke Johann Adolph of Weissenfels, and Reformation Medals, 1717, with portrait of Luther, &c. The work on these, says Bolzenthal, " is of inferior merit ". Bibliography. — Bolzenthal, op. cit. — Th. Distel, Albrecht Kriegers Reformations Medaillen var. 1717, ...
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KRIEGER, ALBRECHT (Germ.). Mint-engraver and Medallist at Leipzig, during the second half of the seventeenth century. His signature A. B. K. occurs on medals of Duke Bernhard II. of Saxony, one of them commemorating his 35th Birthday, 1672, Duke Johann Adolph of Weissenfels, and Reformation Medals, 1717, with portrait of Luther, &c. The work on these, says Bolzenthal, " is of inferior merit ". Bibliography. — Bolzenthal, op. cit. — Th. Distel, Albrecht Kriegers Reformations Medaillen var. 1717, ...
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KRIZ, WENZEL
KRIZ, WENZEL (Bohem.). Medallist of Prague, who died in 1887. By him are the following medals : Hynck J. Heger, stenographer, 1808-1854; — John Huss, 5th Centenary, 1868; — Josef Jungmann, linguist, 1773-1847; — Ticket of the Karlsbad Library; — Prize Medal of the Agricultural Exhibition at Chrudim, 1881; — Prize Medal of the Agricultural Exhibition at Mistek, 1876; — Prize Medal of the Bohemian Industrial Society, 1872; — Another, of 1876 ; — Prize Medal of the Bohemian Agricultural Society, 18...
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KRIZ, WENZEL (Bohem.). Medallist of Prague, who died in 1887. By him are the following medals : Hynck J. Heger, stenographer, 1808-1854; — John Huss, 5th Centenary, 1868; — Josef Jungmann, linguist, 1773-1847; — Ticket of the Karlsbad Library; — Prize Medal of the Agricultural Exhibition at Chrudim, 1881; — Prize Medal of the Agricultural Exhibition at Mistek, 1876; — Prize Medal of the Bohemian Industrial Society, 1872; — Another, of 1876 ; — Prize Medal of the Bohemian Agricultural Society, 18...
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KROHN, FREDERICK CHRISTOPHER
KROHN, FREDERICK CHRISTOPHER (Dan.). Sculptor- and Medallist, born at Copenhagen, 4. August 1806; Pupil of the Copenhagen Academy of Fine Arts, Dalou,Freund, and Brandt; Mint-engraver there, from 1833 until 1863 or later. He is usually known as FRITZ KROHN. His signature occurs as F. KROHN K. or F. K. By him are : Jubilee of the University of Kiel, 1834; — Portrait-medallion of Frederick VI. of Denmark R AEQVITAS AVGVSTI, 1834; — Industrial Exhibition at Copenhagen, 1836; — Herman Wessel, poet,...
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KROHN, FREDERICK CHRISTOPHER (Dan.). Sculptor- and Medallist, born at Copenhagen, 4. August 1806; Pupil of the Copenhagen Academy of Fine Arts, Dalou,Freund, and Brandt; Mint-engraver there, from 1833 until 1863 or later. He is usually known as FRITZ KROHN. His signature occurs as F. KROHN K. or F. K. By him are : Jubilee of the University of Kiel, 1834; — Portrait-medallion of Frederick VI. of Denmark R AEQVITAS AVGVSTI, 1834; — Industrial Exhibition at Copenhagen, 1836; — Herman Wessel, poet,...
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KRONIOS
KRONIOS (Greek). One of the few names of ancient Gem-engravers whom Pliny has left on record. King, Handbook ?c., p. 266, gives three gems, all of which are modern, bearing that signature : Terpsichore, standing, and resting her lyre on a cippus : suspected by Bracci to be the work of Sirletti ;— Jupiter caressing his eagle : cameo (old Poniatowski Colln) ; — Perseus with the head of Medusa KP?NIOY : sard (Devonshire). Known to be modern. Bibliography. — Furtwängler, Gemmen mit Künstlerinschrift...
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KRONIOS (Greek). One of the few names of ancient Gem-engravers whom Pliny has left on record. King, Handbook ?c., p. 266, gives three gems, all of which are modern, bearing that signature : Terpsichore, standing, and resting her lyre on a cippus : suspected by Bracci to be the work of Sirletti ;— Jupiter caressing his eagle : cameo (old Poniatowski Colln) ; — Perseus with the head of Medusa KP?NIOY : sard (Devonshire). Known to be modern. Bibliography. — Furtwängler, Gemmen mit Künstlerinschrift...
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