Ian Rank Broadley’s Michael Ayrton medal came about as a result of his admiration for the work of the British artist, who, Rank Broadley says, ‘was a gifted painter, sculptor, writer and broadcaster. The medal was made with the approval and participation of Mrs Pru Hopkins, Ayrton’s step daughter, and Miss Justine Hopkins, who is Ayrton’s stepgranddaughter and also his biographer.’ Wax models were executed by Ian Rank Broadley based upon Ayrton’s own images. The design on the obverse is based upon the self portrait drawing of l 96 l . The reverse is based upon a powerful archetype which occupied Ayrton for over ten years: that of the minotaur. The image comes directly from the suite of Minotaur etchings, with particular reference to plate VI: Risen. The casting and finishing in bronze was done by the Casting Department of the Royal Mint, and the patination by the artist’.
Michael Ayrton
Michael Ayrton
By: Ian Rank-Broadley, 1996
Medium: cast bronze
Size: 100 x 100mm
Cast by: Royal Mint
Issue: The Medal, no. 29 (1996)
Edition: 59