Artwork
Three Medals with Coats of Arms
Three Medals with Coats of Arms is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Sebald Beham. It dates from 1525 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Sebald Beham’s 1525 engraving presents three circular medals framed within a decorative border. Each medal bears a distinct heraldic composition rendered in fine, linear detail, characteristic of the miniature prints for which the artist is known.
Subject & Meaning
The central medal displays a lion poised on a shield, a conventional emblem of strength and lineage. The flanking medals combine disparate motifs—a ship paired with a crown and a crown accompanied by a bird—creating a complex visual narrative that invites interpretation of status, power, and perhaps allegorical associations.
Technique & Style
Executed by hand engraving, the work relies on sharply incised lines that delineate intricate patterns, swirling ornamentation, and minute animal figures. The precision of the line work reflects the high level of craftsmanship typical of early sixteenth‑century German printmaking, emphasizing clarity over painterly softness.
History & Provenance
Beham, a native of Nuremberg who later worked in Frankfurt, belonged to the group of artists known as the “Little Masters” for their production of small, highly detailed prints. This piece exemplifies his output during a period when German engravers were extending the legacy of Albrecht Dürer through refined, compact compositions.
Context
The engraving emerges from a broader tradition of heraldic representation in Renaissance art, where medals and coats of arms served both decorative and documentary functions. Beham’s choice to render them in a print format reflects the growing demand for portable, affordable reproductions of elite symbols among collectors and patrons.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sebald Beham (1500–1550) was a German painter and printmaker, mainly known for his very small engravings.
