Isaac Parkes, Medallist
(b. about 1791, d. 1870)
Medallist
From A Dictionary of Irish Artists 1913
Was born in Birmingham about 1791 and came to Dublin in 1807, where he was apprenticed to his brother, William Parkes, a manufacturer of metal buttons. He afterwards worked for himself as a military ornament maker, die-sinker and medallist at 43 Bishop Street, until 1826, when he moved to Cork Street, and in 1846 to West Park, Glasnevin. He finally settled in Garville Avenue, Rathgar, in 1854. His earliest work of importance was a medal commemorating the Centenary of the House of Hanover, done in 1814. In 1821 he did a medal in commemoration of the Visit of George IV to Ireland, and also one of the Installation of the Knights of St. Patrick. His best production was the large medal in commemoration of the death of the Duke of York. Writing of this medal in the transactions of the R.I. Academy, Dean Dawson says that it "is an evidence of his boldness and power in the art of die-sinking; for amongst all those of the middle ages I have scarcely seen one that exceeds it in relief, and it has this superiority over them that whilst they were invariably cast, this was raised out of the solid metal by the power of the screw." Parkes's last important works were the Guinness medal, completed in 1865, and that for the Dublin International Exhibition in the same year. He died at his residence in Garville Avenue on the 30th November, 1870, in his 78th year, and was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery on the 3rd of December. Parkes married in 1818 Hannah Craig, and was father of John C. Parkes and of William Theodore Parkes, who are separately noticed.
Medal commemorating the Centenary of the House of Hanover, with busts of George I, II, and III, superimposed; made in 1814. Additional inscription concerning George III added in 1820.
The same Medal with a different reverse.
Duke of Wellington.
George IV, Visit to Ireland, 1821.
George IV, Visit to Ireland, 1821; similar; but in exergue. "Landed at the Royal Harbour of Howth, August 12, MDCCCXXI."
George IV, Installation of Knights of St. Patrick. A view of St. Patrick's Cathedral on reverse.
Frederick Duke of York; done for the Williamite Club, an association formed to oppose the Emancipation Bill. On reverse an equestrian statue of William III. Exhibited in R.H.A., 1827.
Frederick Duke of York; done for the York Club.
Frederick Duke of York; commemorating his death. Considered the artist's finest work.
Richard Dawson, Dean of St. Patrick's. R.H.A., 1842.
Regimental Medal of the 42nd Highlanders.
Regimental Medal of the Scotch Brigade, 94th Regiment.
Visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, 1849. Busts facing each other.
Daniel O'Connell; in commemoration of election of O'Connell and E. S. Rathborne for Dublin, 1832.
Daniel O'Connell; commemorating the Clare Election, 1828.
Daniel O'Connell; Repeal Medal.
Daniel O'Connell: commemorating his death.
The Order of Liberators.
Sir Edward Stanley. Struck for the Royal Dublin Society to commemorate his exertions in promoting its exhibitions.
Rev. R. Kenrick, P.P., commemorating his death in 1827.
The Friendly Brothers. A replica of Mossop's medal.
The Ouzel Galley Society. Two medals.
Royal Dublin Society. Similar to, but not identical with, Mossop's medal.
Royal Dublin Society. Pass for exhibitions.
Dublin International Exhibition, 1865. A view of the Exhibition Palace on the reverse.
Dublin International Exhibition, 1865, with alteration in the reverse.
Mooney & Sons, Pill Lane, Dublin. A trade medal; has a view of the Four Courts.
William III; with representation of the statue in College Green.
William III; to commemorate the restoration of the statue after it had been blown up in 1836. Made from portion of the fragments.
William III; King William on horseback on obverse; crown, sword and sceptre, and open Bible and "Queen and Constitution" on reverse.
Williamite Temperance Medal. Obverse from same die as last.
Medallet of William III. Obverse, bust in armour; reverse, the Boyne Obelisk.
Medallion Portrait of Swift, cast in iron.
Medals of the Fermanagh Farming Society, 1842; The Gowran Farmer's Society; Imokilly and Barrymore do.; Kells Union do. (two medals); Wicklow do. (two medals); Tuam do.; Moate Agricultural Society; Enniscorthy Union Agricultural Society.
Several School Medals.
Temperance Medals: Temperance Society; Irish Total Abstinence Pledge, 1840; Temperance medal, with figure of St. Patrick; Metropolitan Total Abstinence Society; St. James and St. Joseph do.; St. Nicholas of Myra's do.; St. Paul's do.; National do.; St. Augustine's do.; Clones do.; Drogheda do.; Lisburn do.; St. Mary's, Kilkenny, do.; Baldoyle, Howth and Kinsealy Teetotal Temperance Society; Total Abstinence Society, Diocese of Meath; Western Scottish Temperance Union.
A number of tradesmen's tokens, including Edward Bewley, of Dublin; Edward Stephens, of Dublin, 1816 (eight varieties); a halfpenny token, 1813, with bust of the Duke of Wellington.
Seal of Robert Daly, Bishop of Cashel, Emly and Waterford, and consistorial seal of do., both done in 1843.
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