Portrait Medallion of King William IV – Engraving for The Keepsake, 1833

Details

Description

Superbly detailed 19th-century engraving depicting a profile medallion of King William IV of Great Britain, created for the 1833 edition … Read more Superbly detailed 19th-century engraving depicting a profile medallion of King William IV of Great Britain, created for the 1833 edition of the renowned literary annual The Keepsake. The composition reproduces a commemorative medal of the monarch, elegantly framed with laurel branches and classical ornamentation. The portrait is rendered in extreme precision with fine stipple engraving, giving a striking illusion of relief, as if the head were minted in metal rather than inked on paper.

At the top, the engraving bears the title THE KEEPSAKE, and at the bottom, the year 1833. The medal itself is inscribed with GULIELMUS IIII REX BRITANNIARUM around the edge. This piece exemplifies the Romantic era's fusion of classical motifs, national pride, and fine printmaking, all characteristic of The Keepsake series.

Subject: King William IV of the United Kingdom (1765–1837)
Date: 1833
Medium: Original stipple and line engraving on wove paper
Published in: The Keepsake, London, 1833
Origin / Provenance: United Kingdom

Condition:
Excellent antique condition. Minor age toning and faint foxing at the sheet edges, not affecting the image. The plate impression is deep and well preserved. The engraved surface is clean, sharp, and beautifully printed.

Measurements: 20.4 × 27.1 cm (8″ × 10 ⅝″)

Why This Piece Stands Out:
• Finely engraved royal portrait with a remarkable bas-relief effect
• Rare 1833 Keepsake illustration, commemorating the reign of King William IV
• Highly collectible piece for lovers of numismatic art, royal memorabilia, or 19th-century British engraving
• Ideal for framing as part of a neoclassical or literary art collection See less