In the Beginning God Created the Heaven and the Earth

Albert W. Wein, In the Beginning God Created the Heaven and the Earth, 1951, bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the heirs of Albert Laessle: Mrs. Albertine de Bempt Laessle, Mr. Albert M. Laessle and Mr. Paul Laessle, 1972.167.14
Albert W. Wein, In the Beginning God Created the Heaven and the Earth, 1951, bronze, 2 7⁄8 in. (7.3 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the heirs of Albert Laessle: Mrs. Albertine de Bempt Laessle, Mr. Albert M. Laessle and Mr. Paul Laessle, 1972.167.14

Artwork Details

Title
In the Beginning God Created the Heaven and the Earth
Artist
Commissioner
Society of Medallic Arts
Founder
Medallic Art Company
Date
1951
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
2 7⁄8 in. (7.3 cm) diam.
Credit Line
Gift of the heirs of Albert Laessle: Mrs. Albertine de Bempt Laessle, Mr. Albert M. Laessle and Mr. Paul Laessle
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure male — full length
  • Religion — Old Testament — Creation
Object Number
1972.167.14
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1972.167.14

Artwork Description

Research has not revealed the purpose of this medal, but Albert Wein was one of many artists who, after the ravages of the Second World War and the atomic bomb, created images that reaffirmed the values of Western faith and philosophy. The inscriptions and images on the obverse and reverse of this medal come from the story of creation as told in the book of Genesis.

Works by this artist (132 items)

View all artworks
Man Ray, Fisherman's Idol, cast 1973, bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.7
Fisherman’s Idol
Artist
Datecast 1973
bronze
On view
Man Ray, Le Voyeur, 1965, wooden cigar box with inserted door lens, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.4
Le Voyeur
Artist
Date1965
wooden cigar box with inserted door lens
On view
Man Ray, Its Another Spring, 1961, mixed media: metal spring, ivory ball, and wooden cigar box, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.6
Its Another Spring
Artist
Date1961
mixed media: metal spring, ivory ball, and wooden cigar box
On view
Man Ray, Square Dumb Bells, 1944 or 1945, cast bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.17A-B
Square Dumb Bells
Artist
Date1944 or 1945
cast bronze
On view

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
Marcus Root, Caroline Lamb Norris, ca 1855, daguerreotype with tinting, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Charles Isaacs and Carol Nigro, 1999.86.2
Caroline Lamb Norris
Artist
Attributed to Marcus Root
Dateca 1855
daguerreotype with tinting
Not on view
Image Not Available
Bently
Artist
Dateca. 1975
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.9
Untitled
Artist
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, Untitled, ca. 1945-1950, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Lewis and Jean Greenblatt, 2002.86.7
Untitled
Artist
Dateca. 1945-1950
gelatin silver print
Not on view