Edward VII, Patron of Institute of Technical Education 1901

This silver medal by Leonard Charles Wyon depicts King Edward VII as a patron of technical education. What strikes me most is the profile portrait, a classical motif harking back to ancient coins and busts of emperors. The profile, since antiquity, has served as a potent symbol of power and authority. It connects Edward VII to a lineage of rulers stretching back to Roman emperors, and even further to the idealized visages of Greek gods. Think of Roman coins bearing Caesar's profile or Renaissance medals immortalizing powerful families. This isn't merely about likeness; it's about evoking a sense of timeless, enduring rule. We can see a recurring fascination with profile portraits throughout history. Each era imbues the form with new meaning while subconsciously echoing past associations of power and stability. This medal, through its classical portraiture, taps into this deep well of cultural memory, subtly reinforcing the King's authority.