Lot 91: A SET OF TEN PLASTER CAST MEDALLION PLAQUES after

A SET OF TEN PLASTER CAST MEDALLION PLAQUES after Count Theodore Petrovich Tolstoy, 1783-1873. The ten octagonal shape polychrome relief sculpted plaques with various allegorical scenes commemorating the campaigns against Napoleon and contained in matching glazed gilt frames. Width 8 inches (20.3 cm) each. Count Feodor Petrovich Tolstoy (1783-1873) was born in St. Petersburg where he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts from 1802. As one of the most fashionable artists in Russia during the 1820's, he was mentioned by Pushkin in Eugene Onegin. However, his greatest talent was in wax modeling and from 1810 he was appointed medical designer to the St. Petersburg Mint. Between 1813 and 1833 Tolstoy created his most successful medallions, a series of classical scenes devoted to the Napoleonic Wars of 1812-1814, including the present examples. He was appointed vice-president of the St. Petersburg Academy in 1828.