Collectors of the classic US commemorative series are familiar with Hans Schuler, the talented Baltimore sculptor who was responsible for the designs found on the 1934 Maryland Tercentenary half-dollar.
But the coin was not Schuler's only artistic connection to Maryland's 300th anniversary!
In a previous post, I briefly mentioned that Schuler was also responsible for the Maryland Tercentenary Commission's official commemorative medallion. I thought I'd provide a bit more information on the piece here.
The obverse of the medal features a portrait of Albert C. Ritchie, the Maryland Governor at the time of the tercentenary, along with the Maryland coat-of-arms. The reverse depicts the landing of Leonard Calvert in the new colony; he is seen holding the colonial proclamation prepared by his brother Cecil Calvert, the 2nd Lord Baltimore, who held the Royal Land Grant and Charter for the Maryland colony. Also depicted are fellow colonists Captain Thomas Cornwallis and Reverend Andrew White (to Calvert's right) along with a standard-bearer and Native American (to Calvert's left). In the background can be seen the
Ark, one of the two ships that brought the colonists to America (the other was the
Dove).
Sales of the attractive 2-1/4" bronze commemorative medallion were not as strong as those of the coin. Of the 2,000 medals struck, it appears that 602 were still in inventory when the Commission terminated; the medals were turned over to the State for future sales. The medals originally sold for $1.00 each, but the price was later lowered to $0.50.
But that's not where Schuler's involvement ends either!
The Tercentenary Commission also decided to erect a commemorative tablet at Cowes, Isle of Wight, England â€" the place from which the colonists departed England to start the Maryland colony. Hans Schuler was given the commission to design the tablet. Following is an image of the tablet that I scanned from the
Report of the Maryland Tercentenary Commission.
The image is a bit difficult to read, so here's the text it features:
On the 22nd day of November AD 1633
Leonard Calvert
brother of Cecil Calvert, Baron of
Baltimore, with his co-adventurers,
set sail from this port in the Ark and
the Dove to establish in America the
Palatinate of Maryland, under a charter
granted by the King of England, which
conferred upon the people of Maryland
all the Rights of Englishmen, to be theirs
in perpetuity - Rights which the people
of Maryland have ever cherished as their
greatest, most valued heritage.
Upon the site, granted by the Cowes
Urban District Council to the Society of the
Ark and the Dove this tablet is erected,
November 22,
1933 by The State of Maryland.But wait, there's more!
Schuler also created a statue he called "Freedom from Conscience" for the Tercentenary. Through the sculpture, Schuler endeavored to express "the principle of religious toleration" â€" a founding principle of the original Maryland Province/Colony. Schuler's model of the statue was exhibited during the Tercentenary celebrations; the permanent statue was completed in 1935 and erected at St. Mary's City, Maryland. Here's an image of Schuler's model (from the
Report of the Maryland Tercentenary Commission):
Here's a link to color images of the permanent statue, including an image of the inscription on the rear side of the statue:
https://www.stmaryscity.org/history...nial/56.htmlThere can be little doubt that Hans Schuler was the most commissioned artist of the Maryland Tercentenary â€" he was commissioned to produce all of the official works of sculpture (including a bust of Governor Leonard Calvert, not discussed). He might never have been named the "Official" artist of the Maryland Tercentenary, but for all intents and purposes he certainly held the title!
Posted 01/08/2013 9:59 pm
