David Hosack, Physician and Scientist

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this intimate bronze medallion captures the profile of David Hosack, pioneering 19th-century American physician and. Measuring just 1 1/4 inches in diameter, it exemplifies the refined art of portrait medals—small-scale sculptures that blend commemorative function with artistic portraiture. Hosack, renowned for his contributions to medicine and botany, including the founding of America's first public botanical garden, is depicted in classic profile, evoking ancient Roman coins while honoring an Enlightenment-era innovator. Crafted by Moritz Fürst, an Austrian-born sculptor active in the United States, the medallion showcases masterful bronze casting techniques. Fürst's work often featured such precise, low-relief profiles, highlighting facial features with subtle modeling that conveys dignity and intellect. The unknown creation date aligns with early 20th-century revivals of medal art, a nod to Renaissance traditions adapted for modern American heroes. A generous gift from Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Wait in 1909, this piece reflects growing appreciation for native cultural icons. It invites visitors to ponder Hosack's legacy—bridging science, patriotism, and natural history—in a format both portable and profound.

About the Artist

Moritz Fürst · 1782–1882

Moritz Fürst was a Hungarian-born engraver and medalist who became one of the most accomplished practitioners of his craft in the early United States. Born in Hungary in 1782, he acquired his technical training in European ateliers before emigrating to America, where he arrived in the early years of the nineteenth century and ultimately settled in Philadelphia — then the center of the young nation...