COUNT FEODOR TOLSTOY A RARE AND IMPORTANT RUSSIAN SET OF THIRTY-SIX WHITE METAL ALLOY MEDALS, 1814-1840

comprising thirty-six first proof silver alloy medals depicting the Russian Patriotic Wars of 1812-1814 and 1826-1829, two profiles of Alexander I, one profile of Nicholas I, and one inscribed in Russian For Valour, mounted in four frames, the reverse of each inscribed with the title of each medal, thirty-three after Feodor Tolstoy, thirteen with signature of A.A. Klepikov (1801-1852), nineteen with signature of A.P. Lyalin, one with signature of Gure and one with the signature of Maria (Dowager Maria Feodorovna, wife of Paul I, 1759-1828)

E. Ducamp (ed.), Pavlovsk: The Palace and the Park, the Collections, Alain de Gourcuff, 1997
M. Smirnov, The Russian Mint, 1724-1994, St.Petersburg, 1994   
V. Smirnov, Catalogue of Russian Medals, St. Petersburg, 1908
E. Shchukina, Two Centuries of Russian Medals: Medal Art in Russia in 1700-1917, M. Terra, 2002
  

“… Äåðçíóë ÿ èçîáðàçèòü â ìåäàëÿõ çíàìåíèòåéøèå ñîáûòèÿ 1812, 1813, 1814 ãîäîâ è ïåðåäàòü ïîòîìêàì äåëà, óäèâèâøèå âñåëåííóþ, íåò … ÿ ðåøèëñÿ ïåðåäàòü ïîòîìêàì ñëàáûå îòòåíêè ÷óâñòâ, ìåíÿ èñïîëíÿâøèõ…” 

 “…I was bold enough to depict in these medals the most important events of 1812, 1813, 1814 and pass on to our descendants some of the subtle emotions which spilled forth from my heart…”  Count F.Tolstoy, Memoirs, 1814

Feodor Petrovich Tolstoy (1783-1873) descended from one of the oldest noble families in Russia. Like many young aristocratic men of his generation he attended the Naval Cadet Corps. Following his graduation, Tolstoy embarked on a new career. He left the Navy to attend the Imperial Academy of Arts classes in plastic arts, and in 1806 began working in the Hermitage Museum. From 1810 he worked at the Mint (Monetniy Dvor) and became the founder of medal-working in Russia.

The offered medals are extremely rare and were made specifically as presentation pieces. The medals are first proofs struck from shtempelei (dies) and display remarkable detail and workmanship of the highest quality.

After the Russian victory at the battle of Leipzig Tolstoy was inspired to create a series of twenty medallions devoted to the major battles of the Napoleonic Wars. This first set commemorates Russian victories over the Napoleonic Army (1812-1814) and major events of the military campaign of 1812. The Empire-style medallions acquired a wide reputation not only in Russia, but also abroad and following their creation Tolstoy was elected a member of almost all the European academies of fine arts.

The rarest are those worked in white metal alloy and engraved by two of the most prominent medallists of the 19th century A. Klepikov and A. Lyalin. Tolstoy medals were also produced in other materials such as bronze, porcelain and plaster, all made initially from wax models. Both Klepikov and Lyalin were exceptionally gifted and, having graduated from the Academy of Arts, they succeeded Tolstoy as chief medallists at the Mint. From the early 1830s Tolstoy ceased working with steel altogether as by 1837 he was suffering from poor eye-sight and gradually withdrew from the more technical side of the production process. From this time Lyalin and Klepikov took over and using Tolstoy's moulds skilfully engraved the dies.

The creation of the medals was a lengthy process involving intricate drawings, wax mouldings and engravings in copper from which plaster models were made. One of the most remarkable examples of Tolstoy's artistic versatility is the medal bearing the portrait of Alexander I as Rodomysl, for which he was responsible at all stages of production, including the engraving. The other portrait of Alexander I is signed by Empress Maria Feodorovna who was recognised at the time, and latterly, for her artistic abilities. She presented a gold version of the medal to Alexander I on his return from foreign campaigns, as outlined in V. Smirnov's Catalogue of Russian Medals. The portrait of Nicholas I is signed by Gure, and the last engraved For Valour is unsigned.    

The first complete series of Napoleonic medals was finished by 1830. Along with the other four medals mentioned above it was exhibited at the Russian Academy of Arts in 1832 where it was met with great acclaim. It is now kept in the collection of the Russian Museum. Tolstoy created this series at the peak of his artistic career and the original twenty medals are still considered to be the finest examples of Russian metallurgy.

Previously, metallurgical work was dismissed as merely a craft; and it was Tolstoy's aesthetic vision that helped transform this work into an art form. This unique set combines superb technical skills of the artists and engravers; representations of the momentous events of the early 19th century, and the ideal of Slavonic militarism. The strong patriotic sentiments of the period that inspired the creator are embodied in classical forms, a popular theme in Russian art at this time.

Included in the offered lot are another series of twelve medals commemorating the Russo-Prussian war of 1826-1827 and Russo-Turkish war of 1828-1829. In her book Two Centuries of Russian Medals: Medal Art in Russia in 1700-1917, Dr Evgenia Shchukina, Director of the Coin Department at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, writes that at the end of the 1830s Tolstoy was commissioned to create twelve medals, with subjects selected by the Minister of the Court. Considered by many art historians not as original and innovative as the first series, this series of twelve medals displays outstanding technical skills of the engravers.

When both series of thirty two medals, along with the additional four represented here, were finished at the beginning of 1840 they were sent abroad to be exhibited at art academies in Europe. In the Official Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of 1851, Index of Names and Subjects, in the section referring to the Russian Pavilion and under the heading Articles of Fine Art, designed, modelled and executed by Count Tolstoy, Vice-President of the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, there appears the following: 20 metallic dies, being allegorical compositions on the events of the wars of the years 1812, 1813, 1814, [asking price:] £3166 and 12 shillings.          

Nonetheless it is widely believed, and is also the opinion of Dr Shchukina, that the dies for the medals never left Russia. If this is the case, one must conclude that there was an error in the Great Exhibition Catalogue and that the medals, rather than the dies were on display in London and were offered at such a high price.

Index of medals:
Alexander I as Rodomysl
Liberation of Berlin
Triple alliance
Battle of Leipzig
Liberation of Amsterdam
Battle of Kulma
Crossing of the Rhine
Battle of Fere Champenoise
Battle on the hills of Katzbach

Rallying of the people
Battle of Borodino
Napoleon's escape across the Niemen
Battle of Berezina
Portrait of Alexander I
Liberation of Moscow
Battle of Malo-Yaroslavets
First step of Alexander across the borders of Russia
Three-day battle of Krasny

Battle of Brienne
Battle of Arcis-sur-Aube
Peace in Europe
Capture of Paris
For Valour
Crossing the Danube
Capture of Brailov, Varna and other Fortresses
Capture of Tauride
Battle of Yelisavetpol

Capture of Kars
Capture of Yerevan
Battle and capture of Achaltsych
Capture of Adrianopol
Portrait of Nicholas I
Crossing the Balkans
Destroying Two Corps of the Turkish Army
Heroism of Brig Mercury
Capture of Erzerum