The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 29, 2023

American Red Cross War Council Medal (obverse)

1920

Part of a set. See all set records

sculptor

Daniel Chester French

(American, 1850–1931)

maker

Medallic Art Company

(American)

America, 19th-20th century

Bronze

Diameter: 7 cm (2 3/4 in.)

Gift of the John Huntington Art and Polytechnic Trust 1921.1724.a

Location

not on view

Fun Fact

The initials of artist Will Hicok Low (1853–1932) are inscribed on the reverse because he advised French to place the nurse in front of the soldier in the composition.

Description

This medal was the 42nd issue of the American Numismatic Society and co-issued by the American Red Cross in 1920. It was first struck in gold for the 12 members of the council of prominent New York businessmen who had advised the American Red Cross on its work during the First World War. Then 4 more were struck in silver and 205 in bronze, the group from which this medal comes.

Inscriptions

Inscription

Obverse: impressed DCF [Daniel Chester French] under the image of a soldier facing left

Provenance
(American Numismatic Society, New York).
Exhibition history

Guardian Bank (Publicity Campaign Exhibition), September 28, 1922

1921.1535, 1921.1536, 1921.1546, 1921.1559, 1921.1562, 1921.1563

Reliance Trust Company (Publicity Campaign Exhibition), September 30, 1922

1921.1526, 1921.1528, 1921.1538, 1921.1542, 1921.1547, 1921.1571

Cleveland Public Library, November 7, 1942

1921.1544

Cleveland College, June 28, 1944

1921.1546

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1921.1724.a