Benedetto Pistrucci was born in Rome on 24 May 1784. He attended school in Bologna, Rome and Naples. Later he was apprenticed to Roman gem-engravers, whom he quickly surpassed in skill. In 1814 Pistrucci tried his luck in London and obtained employment as an engraver with the Royal Mint of England. Pistrucci produced great pieces for the court goldsmiths Rundell & Bridge & Rundell but he also came in conflict with the famous Wyon engraver family. After the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 the Duke of Wellington suggested to make some special medals at the occasion of this great victory. Gold medals were to be presented to the four allied monarchs and two silver medals to Marshal Blucher and the Duke of Wellington himself. Pistrucci's design was selected as the best. Due to strife at the Royal Mint regarding the position of chief engraver, salary disputes, heavy workload and the complexity of the design it took 33 yaers to complete the work. At last in 1849 the dies were complete but by that point all those for whom the medals were intended with the exception of the Duke of Wellington were dead. The Watterloo medal is considered as one of the rarest and most important pieces of historic medals. The wax model can be found in the mint musuem of Rome. Pistruccie also produced the coronation medals for King George IV and Queen Victoria. But Pistrucci is surely best kown
for engraving the Saint George Slaying The Dragon wich featured on most of the Bititsh Sovereigns since 1817 and wich is still used today. Benedetto Pistrucci died at Englefield Green, Surrey.
for engraving the Saint George Slaying The Dragon wich featured on most of the Bititsh Sovereigns since 1817 and wich is still used today. Benedetto Pistrucci died at Englefield Green, Surrey.
Benedetto Pistrucci was born in Rome on 24 May 1784. He attended school in Bologna, Rome and Naples. Later he was apprenticed to Roman gem-engravers, whom he quickly surpassed in skill. In 1814 Pistrucci tried his luck in London and obtained employment as an engraver with the Royal Mint of England. Pistrucci produced great pieces for the court goldsmiths Rundell & Bridge & Rundell but he also came in conflict with the famous Wyon engraver family. After the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 the Duke of Wellington suggested to make some special medals at the occasion of this great victory. Gold medals were to be presented to the four allied monarchs and two silver medals to Marshal Blucher and the Duke of Wellington himself. Pistrucci's design was selected as the best. Due to strife at the Royal Mint regarding the position of chief engraver, salary disputes, heavy workload and the complexity of the design it took 33 yaers to complete the work. At last in 1849 the dies were complete but by that point all those for whom the medals were intended with the exception of the Duke of Wellington were dead. The Watterloo medal is considered as one of the rarest and most important pieces of historic medals. The wax model can be found in the mint musuem of Rome. Pistruccie also produced the coronation medals for King George IV and Queen Victoria. But Pistrucci is surely best kown
for engraving the Saint George Slaying The Dragon wich featured on most of the Bititsh Sovereigns since 1817 and wich is still used today. Benedetto Pistrucci died at Englefield Green, Surrey.
for engraving the Saint George Slaying The Dragon wich featured on most of the Bititsh Sovereigns since 1817 and wich is still used today. Benedetto Pistrucci died at Englefield Green, Surrey.
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