In Memory of Carl Albert Bachofen von Echt

Art Historical Context

In the European Sculpture and Decorative Arts at The Metropolitan Museum of Art sits a poignant bronze medal titled *In Memory of Carl Bachofen von Echt crafted by Austrian artist Anton Scharff in 1884. Measuring just 1 15/16 inches (49 mm) in diameter, intimate plaquette exemplifies the 19th-century revival of medal art—a miniature sculptural form blending portraiture with commemorative purpose. Scharff, a master of realistic bronze work, captures the essence of nobility through finely detailed relief, evoking the grandeur of Austrian aristocratic tradition. The medal honors Carl Albert Bachofen von Echt, a figure from a prominent Austrian family, likely depicted in equestrian portraiture as suggested by motifs of men and horses. Such plaquettes served as personal memorials, worn or displayed to preserve legacies amid the cultural shifts of fin-de-siècle Europe. Gifted to the Met in 1896 by Baron Bachofen von Echt through S. Oettinger, it reflects the era's patronage of the arts, bridging private devotion with public museum treasures. Scharff's technique shines in the medal's subtle modeling and patina, inviting close inspection to reveal textures of horse and rider against a classical profile. A testament to precision in small-scale sculpture, it reminds us how everyday objects could immortalize history.

About the Artist

Anton Scharff · 1845–1903

Anton Scharff (1845–1903) was one of the foremost medallists and engravers of nineteenth-century Austria, whose precision, formal elegance, and prolific output earned him an international reputation. Born in Vienna, he received his training at the Imperial Mint and the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, absorbing the rigorous technical traditions of Central European medal-making while also engaging with...