To Commemorate the Reception by the City of London of King Victor Emanuel, of Sardinia, December 4, 1855 1855

This bronze medal, commemorating King Victor Emanuel's visit to London in 1855, was crafted by Benjamin Wyon. The circular form of the medal provides a structured field for the portrait. Wyon's composition skillfully balances the central figure of King Victor Emanuel in profile with an inscription that curves around the edge. The raised relief of the King’s portrait contrasts with the flat, inscribed text. Notice how the artist plays with depth and dimension. The incised lettering and the monarch’s profile are rendered in meticulous detail. The tactile quality of the metal gives the piece a sense of weight and permanence. The medal is a semiotic object. The profile portrait signifies power and authority, while the Latin inscription locates the event within a historical and cultural context. The choice of bronze as a medium underscores the medal’s purpose as a commemorative object. This medal is not merely a record of an event, but also a structured arrangement of form and material, encoding political and cultural meanings for its intended audience. Its value lies in its capacity to negotiate historical representation.