Two Medals Depicting Columbus
Artist unknown
1892
Medium
Bronze
Classification
medal
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
140714
Art Historical Context
In the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts the Americas collection, *Two Medals Depicting* stands as a poignant artifact from 1892, the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the New World in 1492. Crafted by an unknown artist these bronze medals capture the era's fervent celebration of Columbus as a heroic explorer, reflecting the late 19th-century American fascination with national origins and European discovery narratives. Such commemorative pieces were popular during World's Fairs and centennials, symbolizing progress and imperial ambition. Struck in bronze—a durable medi...