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Auction: 19020 - British and World Historic and Commemorative Medals and Tokens: e-Auction 3
Lot: 191

Promotion of Sciences and the Arts, Medals [5], "Local Prize for Success", AE, by W Wyon, awarded to LOUISA S DOUSBERY. GOWER STREET SCHOOL. LONDON. STAGE 22c. 1856 {as inscribed on edge}, National Art Training School {subsequently Royal College of Art}, AR, by W Wyon, awarded to EMILY F. JACKSON. STAGE 15. 1879, 50mm, 65.46g; Royal Academy of Arts, AE Prize Medal, 1937, by E G Gillick, 55mm, 80.51g; Devonport Exhibition of Arts, Science, and Manufactures 1869, AE, by L C Wyon, 45mm, 53.48g; lastly, National Medal for Success in Art, 1897, AE Prize Medal, 51mm, 72.44g; all very fine to extremely, most the latter [5]

Dr Leibfried collection


Louisa Shakespear(e) Dousbery was born in December 1835, the daughter of Sarah and Thomas, a perfumer of Holborn. Admitted to the Female School of Art after its move to Gower Street in 1853, she would have been taught as “a young woman of the middle class as a means to obtaining an honourable and profitable employment”. Holding classes in elementary drawing, entrance cost 2 Shillings, tutoring evening classes from 6-8pm for a month: 3 Shillings; for 3 months: 7 Shillings; and for 6 months: 10 Shillings, to be paid in advance. A progressive school from the outset, in 1866 it was reported that that students were allowed to draw the clothed female figure for the first time! Lamentably however, Louisa would be admitted to the Bethlem Hospital in October 1869 suffering from severe emaciation and melancholia following four or five months of being unable to eat properly and being found having clambered onto the roof of her home through an open window. Sadly she would succumb to her illness on 14 December that year.

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