Secessionist Medals

Secessionist Artists - WWI 1914 -1918 => Ludwig Gies 1887-1966 => First WWI Series => Topic started by: Henry Scott Goodman on May 13, 2020, 09:57:59 PM

Title: Mortar in Mountain Position
Post by: Henry Scott Goodman on May 13, 2020, 09:57:59 PM

MÖRSER IN BERGSTELLUNG
(Mortar in Mountain Position)

No Date (1914) Cast bronze uniface medal, 62.8mm, 90.2g, Edge-punched: C. POELLATH SCHROBENH. Ernsting WVZ 56 
Henry Scott Goodman Collection

The flat field rises slightly towards the raised border, the lower exergue is raised and set off from the edge; the image motif is raised sculpturally.
   
In the middle of hilly terrain three heavy guns protected by large bulwarks; in the foreground from right to left a pair of men pull two wagons stacked full of cannonballs; behind each gun are operating crews, behind the front gun a soldier with telescope.  Small incuse L.G. in exergue.

Number in Museum Collections: 6

Brüssel, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Albert I Penningkabinett (Royal Library)
London, British Museum, Department of Coins and Medals
Munich, Staatliche Münzsammlung (National Coin Collection)
Paris, Musée d’Historie Contemporaine  (Museum of Contemporary History)
Stuttgart, Württembergisches Landesmuseum (Württemberg Regional Museum)
Vienna, Kunsthistoriches Museum (Art History Museum)

Number known in Private Collection: 2

Provenance: Ex-Steve Pellegrini Collection


ICONOGRAPHY
According to Ernsting; Together with WVZ 55 to WVZ 62 this work was one of a series of eight, probably before December 1914.  Threat and impressive attitude at the same time; which emanated from the mighty guns of the First World War, and whose fascination did not stop even Gies, express the previously introduced character of monumental representations.