Patrick Hamilton

About this artwork

diameter 2.8 cm x weight 8.92 gr

Art Historical Context

Behold this finely struck medal portraying **Patrick Hamilton**, crafted by the renowned Swiss engraver Jean Dassier 1725. Measuring just 2.8 cm in diameter and weighing 8.92 grams, this petite metalwork exemplifies the precision of 18th-century numismatic art. Dassier, part of a celebrated family of medalists from Geneva, specialized in portrait medals that captured the likenesses of historical figures with remarkable clarity and depth. The striking technique—hammering a die against a metal blank—allowed Dassier to achieve intricate details and high relief, making even small-scale works like this one vividly lifelike. Such medals were prized collectibles, bridging sculpture and printmaking, and often served as portable tributes to notable individuals. Patrick Hamilton, an early Scottish Protestant reformer executed in 1528, symbolizes the dawn of the Reformation in Scotland. Created nearly two centuries later, Dassier's medal likely honors his enduring legacy of faith and martyrdom, reflecting the era's fascination with Protestant heroes amid Enlightenment-era historical revival. A gem for any collection, it invites us to ponder how tiny artworks preserve grand stories.