Medals and Medallists connected with Ireland. 15 



affords an example worthy of imitation amongst those who may have an oppor- 

 tunity of patronizing arts and artists. When Mossop had finished the head of 

 Lord Pery, he waited upon him with the work. His Lordship expressed him- 

 self highly pleased with the performance, and inquired what remuneration he 

 expected ; on Mossop's replying twenty guineas, the nobleman's surprise gave 

 every reason to imagine that he conceived it an exorbitant demand; coldly 

 remarking, that he thought the artist had not put a fair price upon his work, he 

 observed, he hoped he would be satisfied to accept what he thought proper to 

 give. With these words he presented Mr. Mossop with a paper, which he put 

 into his pocket without examination, and in some confusion bowed and withdrew. 

 If the artist was mortified under the impression that his price was to be reduced, 

 we may imagine his gratification at finding he had been presented with an order 

 for double the sum he had demanded. 



Shortly after, in 1786, Mossop was employed to execute the Prize Medal of 

 our Academy. The side with Hibernia and the emblems of art was the original 

 device, to the other side was added the head of the Earl of Charlemont when 

 he became our president. As this work may be justly considered the chef 

 d'ceuvre of the artist, and is, I regret to say, in the hands of so few of our 

 members, it will be proper here more particularly to describe it. Obverse, 

 JACOBUS • COMES • DE CHARLEMONT • PR^s. The Earl is represented in the 

 uniform of the Irish volunteers ; the resemblance is most correct, and the exe- 

 cution of the head beautifully soft and fleshy ; the modem costume, so ill 

 adapted to classical art, is rendered agreeable by delicate and judicious ma- 

 nagement. Reverse, veteres revocavit artes. Hibernia seated on a pile of 

 books, surrounded by emblems of astronomy, chemistry, poetry, and antiquities. 

 Exergue, acad • reg • hib • inst • jan . 28 - mdcclxxxvi. The figure is bold and 

 masterly, the drapery broad, and the drawing correct ; while the disposition of 

 the emblems is so tasteful, that in the variety of subjects embraced, nothing ap- 

 pears crowded or confused. The noble Earl was so pleased with this specimen 

 of his skill, that he allowed the artist the use of his library, and free access to 

 all his valuable collections. 



Soon after the execution of this work Mossop received orders for the 

 medal of Lord Rokeby the Primate ; for that given at the Commencement in 

 Trinity College ; for the badges worn at various societies ; and for tickets of ad- 

 mission to sundry institutions : in fact, he had arrived at the top of his profession. 



