GERMANY. Sachsen. Dresden (Stadt). Uniface Plaquette 1897 (Gilt Silver, 51x34 mm, 15.32 g), on the German Art Exhibition in Dresden. By H. Hartmann-MacLean. NATUR MUTTER DER KUNST / ERSTE INTERNATIONALE / KUNSTAUSSTELLUNG / DRESDEN•1897 The nude personification of Nature offers her right breast to a young painter, who holds a brush in his right hand and a palette in his left; above, Maple leaves. Rev. Incuse of obverse. Beckenbauer 1739. Gebauer 1901. Heidemann 814. SKD 26016. Rare. Matt. Good extremely fine.


This plaquette - considered shockingly obscene at the time - was awarded to participating artists at the 1897 German Art Exhibition in Dresden. It was designed by none other than the sculptor, medallist, and professor Hans Hartmann-McLean (born Hans Rudolf Hartmann), a prominent figure in the German art world. A graduate, later professor, and honorary member of the Dresdner Kunstakademie (‘Dresden Academy of Fine Arts’ in German), Hartmann-McLean was responsible for numerous public monuments that still shape the cityscape of Dresden today.

The imagery on the plaque is a direct reference to the famous lines from Schiller’s Ode to Joy: ‘All creatures drink of joy / At Nature’s breast.’ This visual metaphor -Nature as a nurturing, life-giving mother- is a celebration of naturalism in painting. At the same time, it serves as a subtle critique of emerging movements like Impressionism and abstract art. The message is clear: true creativity springs from fidelity to nature.

These rare and unusual pieces exist in several variations. The present example matches the dimensions of the one from the Beckenbauer Collection (Beckenbauer Collection, Hauck & Aufhäuser 16, 16-17 Ocotber 2001, 1739).