Eimer 1306A, BHM 1794.
55mm. Silver. By W.Wyon.
A pair of medals awarded to Walter Ernest Webster, including one standard issue medal and a second with the obverse blank but for an explanatory sticker reading: ‘This Medal will be exchanged in due course for one with the King’s head on it. Notice will be given in the Schools as soon as the new medals are ready.'
The standard medal with obverse featuring the beautiful young head bust of Victoria, reverse with sculpture of a body, mounted on a rock. Edge inscribed 'WALTER ERNEST WEBSTER FOR THE 1ST BEST SET OF DRAWINGS OF A FIGURE FROM LIFE, DEC 10 1901'. Second medal with edge plain.
A beautiful pair of medals, both wonderfully toned and both housed in original fitted cases of issue (one with lid detached). Either Webster got the complete Queen’s head medal in 1901 and never returned the substitute with the attached note, or he was awarded the complete medal in 1901 and the second medal in 1902. The medals are quite rare and the stickered uniface example is the only example that we have been able to find.
Walter Ernest Webster RI ROI RP (17 November 1877 – 30 April 1959) was a British figure and portrait painter. He also worked as an illustrator. Webster won a scholarship to study at the National Art Training Schools (which was renamed the Royal College of Art) before attending the Royal Academy Schools from 24 January 1899 to 1904. He was a good student and won scholarships and prizes including:
- Before entering the Royal Academy Schools he won the first prize (£2 2s. – two guineas) in a competition in The International Studio for the design of an advertisement.
- A scholarship for painting in 1901.
- First prize (£50 and a silver medal) in a competition for six drawings of a figure from life, also in 1901. (This medal)
- First prize (£25 and a silver medal) for a cartoon of a draped figure, a Sibyl, in 1902.
- Runner up for the Armitage prize (£10) for a design in monochrome for a figure picture.
- Runner-up for the design of a decoration for a portion of a public building in 1903.
Webster's work can be seen in many public collections in the UK, including a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in The Government Art Collection.