Sir Joseph Banks (1743–1820) 1837

This medal of Sir Joseph Banks was made by William Wyon in England, sometime after Banks’ death in 1820. Banks was a celebrated naturalist and botanist, and the president of the Royal Society for over 40 years. Medals like this served as both personal mementos and public commemorations. Looking at the image, we see Banks' profile, a neoclassical style referencing ancient Greek and Roman portraiture. This choice was deliberate, associating Banks with the intellectual and political achievements of those past civilizations. Banks was a prominent figure in a Britain that was expanding its colonial reach, so consider how his scientific work was deeply entwined with this expansion, and supported it by cataloging and exploiting natural resources. To fully understand this medal's significance, we can look at archives of the Royal Society, studies of British colonialism, and biographies of Banks. Art, like this medal, reflects the values, power structures, and scientific advancements of its time.