LOVETT, GEORGE HAMPDEN (Amer.). Medallist, born at Philadelphia, February 14, 1824, died at Brooklyn, January 28, 1894. The following particulars of this Engraver's life are borrowed from Mr. W. E. Weeks' obituary notice in Amer. Joum. of Numismatics, April 1894, p. 104. “ When still an infant, Lovett's father moved to New York, and there the artist spent the greater part of his life. His father, Robert Lovett, and his brothers John D., and Robert, all of whom he outlived, were die-sinkers. After giving George a common school education, his father took him into his employ, at the age of sixteen, to learn the art of engraving and die-sinking. He spent the rest of his life at that business, in New York City, and during the last twenty-five years, he resided in Brooklyn. "In March 1873, he issued a circular, in which he claimed “ that medal die-sinking is a distinct branch of art" ; thus showing his own high estimate of the possibilities of his profession. He thought " competition for national coins and medals should be thrown open to all ". Solomon said, " Of making many books there is no end ". If he could have seen the hundreds (shall we say thousands) of medals, to which G. H. Lovett stood sponsor, he certainly would have included medals also in his ejaculation. As one of his friends somewhat mildly expresses it, " he was prolific". He certainly was. "In his advertisement, in April 1879, in the American Journal of Numismatics, which continued in the Journal, without change, until October, 1890, he referred to but four of his patrons by name, Hamilton College of the City of New York, the American Institute, and the Whiting Manufacturing Company. He announced as on hand, for sale, the issues of Mr. Wood's series and of the New York Medal Club. He advertised to design and execute Medals for Societies, Schools and Colleges, and promised particular attention to Political Tokens and Commemorative Historical Medals and Numismatic Series. “ Lovett kept no list of his productions, many of which he donated to the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society. His medals tell the story of the Centennial Exposition, Philadelphia, 1876; — the World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, New Orleans, 1885; — the North, Central and South American Exposition, New Orleans, 1886; — the Piedmont Exposition, Atlanta, 1887; — the American Exhibition, London, 1887; — and the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893. Numismatic, Historical, and Agricultural Societies, Colleges and Schools, and the Social Clubs, American and foreign, the Masons, Odd Fellows, Grand Army, National Guard, firemen and politicians have sought his aid, time and time again. “ His work commemorates the battles and principal events of the Revolution and the Civil War, the erection of statues and monuments, and the dedication of cathedrals, churches and public or historic buildings. Medals were designed by him to celebrate events abroad as well as at home. He cut the dies for the coins of Honduras, and for the plantation or hacienda currency on the Island of Cuba. The Lord's Prayer, on a diameter of less than half an inch, he cut without the aid of a reducing machine. “ His membership in the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society dates from December 23, 1867. He engraved the plate for the printing of certificates of membership, and cut the dies for the striking of membership medals of the Society in 1876. “ He was married three times. His first wife was Sarah Basmore. He married his third wife, Mary A. Turzanski, September 7, 1868. She survives him, with three children, Mary Emma Lovett, Robert Lovett, and Joseph P. Lovett. " His last illness was but short, but he had been in failing health for several years. He had a press at his house, where he could work quietly and without interruption. Only a short time before his death, he brought home a gold planchet to strike, and told his wife he should spend the afternoon at home striking the medal. When night came, he said, with evident feeling, that he was too feeble to undertake the work, and he should have to get some one else to do it. Death had set his seal upon him ! He died of nervous prostration, January 28, 1894, at his residence, No. 26. Irving Place, Brooklyn". Among the works of G. H. Lovett which have come under my notice, I may mention : Series of 16 Portrait-Medalets of U.S.A. Presidents, from Washington (illustrated) to Lincoln (some signed : G. H. LOVETT ; — G.H.L. ; — and GHLNY ; others unsigned) ; — Several medals of Washington ; — Dr E. K. Kane (3 var.); — Dr Valentine Mott, Med. Dept of University of New York ; — St. John's Floating Hospital, New York; — Washington Kranken-Unterstützung's Verein ; — Dedication of the Masonic Temple in New York, June 1875; — Benjamin Franklin; — The Olive Branch Lodge, 1877; — Lake City Lodge; — Hopkins Lodge, Black Jacques Grove, Texas; — Holland Lodge, State of New York; — Solomon's Lodge, N° 1. Po'keepsie, New York; — Armory Seventh Regiment, Grand Lodge, New York; — Inauguration of the Railway from Bahia de la Habana to Matanzas, Cuba, 1858, etc. The present owners of Geo. H. Lovett's works are ROBERT SNEIDER & C°. 145, Fulton St., New York (q. v.). Bibliography. — W. R. Weeks, l. c. — Marvin, op. cit. — J. R. Snowden, The Medals of Washington, Philadelphia, 1861. — Rosa, Monetario Americano, 1892.
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
LIÉNARD, P. G.
LIÉNARD, P. G. (French). Medallist of the early part of the nineteenth century, residing at Paris, who issued a large series of oval Portrait-plaques, uniface, of celebrated Men, ancient and modern. One of these bears the reverse inscription : MEDAILLEUR GÉNÉRAL DES HOMMES CÉL?BRES OU FAMEUX ANCIENS ET MODERNES COMMENCÉ EN 1801 PAR P. G. LIÉNARD A PARIS. The series is a very large one ; the plaques are oval in shape and of repoussé work, generally with the name of the person represented. The fol...
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LIÉNARD, P. G. (French). Medallist of the early part of the nineteenth century, residing at Paris, who issued a large series of oval Portrait-plaques, uniface, of celebrated Men, ancient and modern. One of these bears the reverse inscription : MEDAILLEUR GÉNÉRAL DES HOMMES CÉL?BRES OU FAMEUX ANCIENS ET MODERNES COMMENCÉ EN 1801 PAR P. G. LIÉNARD A PARIS. The series is a very large one ; the plaques are oval in shape and of repoussé work, generally with the name of the person represented. The fol...
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LIGORIO, PIRRO
LIGORIO, PIRRO (Ital.). A Neapolitan Forger of the seventeenth century, whose productions are commonly known as " Ligoriana ", and consist mostly of ancient coins, probably Roman Imperial copper coins, which he cleverly patinated, also coins and medals of Popes and Cardinals, amongst which the medal of Cardinal Jacomo Savello (later Pope Honorius IV., 1285-1287), &c. Prof. Dressel of Berlin suggests that many of the so-called Paduans are probably by Ligorio, and quotes the following documents co...
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LIGORIO, PIRRO (Ital.). A Neapolitan Forger of the seventeenth century, whose productions are commonly known as " Ligoriana ", and consist mostly of ancient coins, probably Roman Imperial copper coins, which he cleverly patinated, also coins and medals of Popes and Cardinals, amongst which the medal of Cardinal Jacomo Savello (later Pope Honorius IV., 1285-1287), &c. Prof. Dressel of Berlin suggests that many of the so-called Paduans are probably by Ligorio, and quotes the following documents co...
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LINCK, JOHANN
LINCK, JOHANN (Germ.). Medallist and Mint-engraver at Heidelberg, 1659-1711. His initials occur in 1690 on currency of the Bishop of Würzburg, and some of his medals are signed : LINCK; or I. LINCK sculp. Heidelbergae. Amongst his productions are : Frankfurt Medal of Leopold I., 1696 (signed : I.L.); —Peace of St-Germain-en-Laye, and Fontainebleau, 1679 (signed : LINCK : sculp. Heidelbergae). A Thaler of Charles, Count Palatine of the Rhine, 1681, bears the initials IL which refer to a Mint-mast...
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LINCK, JOHANN (Germ.). Medallist and Mint-engraver at Heidelberg, 1659-1711. His initials occur in 1690 on currency of the Bishop of Würzburg, and some of his medals are signed : LINCK; or I. LINCK sculp. Heidelbergae. Amongst his productions are : Frankfurt Medal of Leopold I., 1696 (signed : I.L.); —Peace of St-Germain-en-Laye, and Fontainebleau, 1679 (signed : LINCK : sculp. Heidelbergae). A Thaler of Charles, Count Palatine of the Rhine, 1681, bears the initials IL which refer to a Mint-mast...
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LINCKE
LINCKE or LYNCH or LINCHE, GERMAYNE (Brit.). Master of the Mints in Ireland, from the end of Henry VI. 's reign to the 13th year of Edward IV. He was indicted, An 12 Edward IV. (1462) "for that when the statute said, that every pound of Bullion coined, should be forty-four shillings in money, he coined out of every pound forty-eight shillings, and that he coined at Drogheda one thousand groats, which being tried, it was found that eleven weighed but three-quarters of an ounce" and found guilty; ...
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LINCKE or LYNCH or LINCHE, GERMAYNE (Brit.). Master of the Mints in Ireland, from the end of Henry VI. 's reign to the 13th year of Edward IV. He was indicted, An 12 Edward IV. (1462) "for that when the statute said, that every pound of Bullion coined, should be forty-four shillings in money, he coined out of every pound forty-eight shillings, and that he coined at Drogheda one thousand groats, which being tried, it was found that eleven weighed but three-quarters of an ounce" and found guilty; ...
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