By Žemaičių muziejus „Alka“
CAPITAL OF MEDAL ART
During the last 40 years, the International Symposium of Medal Art has turned Telsiai into a real capital of medal art.
RENAISSANCE: THE BEGINNING OF MEDAL ART
Renaissance ideas born in Italy led to a returning of antique's culture. Today, as the first Europe's medal is considered the medal created by Antonio Pisanello in 1438, which commemorates the arrival of Pope Eugene IV and Byzantine Emperor John VIII Paleologus in Ferrara.
ROMANTICISM
Even today, historical figures, events, and national stories are the most common themes of contemporary medals. The history of the nation is commemorated in both classical and conceptual artistic styles.
SHAPE
According to the shape, medals are traditionally divided into medals and plaques. The round shape of the medal, which existed for several hundred years, today is increasingly being replaced by plaquettes (medals of different shapes) and works of small sculpture.
MATERIALS
Not only the shape of the medal changes, but also the materials. Medals today are made of wood, glass, plastic and other non-traditional materials.
HISTORY OF EVERYDAY
The medal, which has been a genre of canonical great history for a long time, today is getting closer to everyday's life and it's heroes.
THE COLLECTION OF MEDALS
Historical events, personalities, philosophical questions, reflections on existence, fragments of everyday life, aesthetic impressions - all this and more can be found today in contemporary medals and in the medal collection of Samogitian museum "Alka".
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