Pro Patria Medal (design for reverse)

Joseph E. Renier, Pro Patria Medal (design for reverse), 1941, lead, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Renier, 1967.93.64
Joseph E. Renier, Pro Patria Medal (design for reverse), 1941, lead, 3 38 in. (8.7 cm.) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Joseph Renier, 1967.93.64

Artwork Details

Title
Pro Patria Medal (design for reverse)
Date
1941
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
3 38 in. (8.7 cm.) diam.
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Joseph Renier
Mediums
Mediums Description
lead
Classifications
Subjects
  • Mythology — classical — Prometheus
  • Animal — bird — eagle
  • Figure male — full length
  • Figure male — nude
Object Number
1967.93.64

Artwork Description

Joseph Renier dedicated this medal “to all those who contribute their something to life, with the hope for the future, of the country and of humanity . . .” His words echo the Latin inscriptions meaning “For Country” and “For Humanity” that appear on the obverse and reverse of his design. On the reverse, the eagle devouring the body of Prometheus may be a reference to the German eagles displayed by the Nazi regime, which threatened the Western world when Renier designed this medal. The jagged edges mark this object as a “splasher,” in which the molten metal was stamped with die to gauge the sharpness of the image.

Works by this artist (27 items)

Sid Grossman, Aunt Molly Jackson, ca. 1940, printed ca. 1940, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg, 2020.67.2
Aunt Molly Jackson
Dateca. 1940, printed ca. 1940
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Sid Grossman, Dinner time... hard work makes for hearty appetites, Edwardsville, ca. 1940s, printed ca. 1940s, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg, 2020.67.3
Dinner time… hard work makes for hearty appetites,…
Dateca. 1940s, printed ca. 1940s
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Sid Grossman, Untitled, 1940s, printed ca. 1940s, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg, 2020.67.20
Untitled
Date1940s, printed ca. 1940s
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Sid Grossman, Untitled (orchestra), 1940s, printed ca. 1940s, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg, 2020.67.21
Untitled (orchestra)
Date1940s, printed ca. 1940s
gelatin silver print
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

David Levinthal, Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East, 1975, printed 2015, Pigment print on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of an anonymous donor, 2017.32.168, © 1975, David Levinthal
Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East
Date1975, printed 2015
Pigment print on paper
Not on view
David Levinthal, Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East, 1974, printed 2015, Pigment print on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of an anonymous donor, 2017.32.156, © 1974, David Levinthal
Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East
Date1974, printed 2015
Pigment print on paper
Not on view
David Levinthal, Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East, 1974, printed 2015, Pigment print on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of an anonymous donor, 2017.32.154, © 1974, David Levinthal
Untitled from the series Hitler Moves East
Date1974, printed 2015
Pigment print on paper
Not on view
Nicholas Nixon, The Brown Sisters, Truro, Massachusetts, 2017, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Samuel and Blanche Koffler Acquisition Fund, 2018.1
The Brown Sisters, Truro, Massachusetts
Date2017
gelatin silver print
Not on view