"Triple Alliance"

plaster cast medallion plaques, depicting battles of Napoleon War with Russia, after cast of count Feodor Petrovich Tolstoy (1783-1873), signed and dated, 8"dia, 9"(frame). It was a series of medallions made by count Tolstoi to commemorate victory of Russian troops in the patriotic war against Napoleon, depicted 10 victorious battle of the war. Exhibited : Royal Academy Exhibition 1815-1816 Cat. 842; pair of this medallions in British Museum, London; set of these medallions are exhibited in collection of Pavlovsk Museum, St. Petersburg (summer residence of former Tzar).

Count Fyodor Petrovich Tolstoy (Russian: Фёдор Петрович Толстой; 21 February 1783 – 25 April 1873) was a Russian artist who served as Vice-President of the Imperial Academy of Arts for forty years (1828–1868). His works – wax-reliefs, watercolours, medallions, and silhouettes – are distinguished by a cool detachment and spare and economical classicism.

Starting 23 September 1810 he worked in the Department of the Mint and became the founder of medal working in Russia. After the battle of Leipzig, he began a series of twenty-four medallions, devoted to the major battles of the Napoleonic Wars. 

Medallions of Fyodor Tolstoy - a series of reliefs in the spirit of classicism, created by the artist F.P. Tolstoy after the victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 with allegorical scenes on the themes of the war of 1812 and the overseas campaigns of the Russian army in 1813-1814. The series began in 1814 and finished in 1836.

Tolstoy's medallions acquired wide reputation not only in Russia, but also abroad. He was elected a member of almost all the European academies of fine arts. In 1861, he made his last medal, dedicated to the emancipation of the serfs.

Medallions were very popular, bringing wide popularity to their author. It is believed that this cycle is the best work of Russian medal art of the 19th century.