Reference:4251 Count Joseph Radetzky, 1849

A large uniface portrait relief of Count Joseph Radetzky, his uniformed bust to left, in an oval frame; around are arms, standards and various attributes to victory. Signed and dated on the truncation: G K 1849. Bronzed electrotype. 290 x 340 mm. (11.5 x 13.6 inches).

Condition: Very fine and most attractive.

Notes: Count Radetzky (1766-1858) was an Austrian soldier who served against Napoleon at Hohenlinden and Wagram in 1809. He commanded the Austrian army which defeated the Sardinians at Custoza in 1848 and Novara in 1849, culminating in the capture of Venice in the same year, for which it is believed this plaque was produced. The development of the electrotyping process in the 1840s saw the making of Benedetto Pistrucci's Waterloo medal in the same year as this plaque of Radetzky, which is extremely well made, although the full artist's name (G.K.) remains a mystery at this moment.