The American Numismatic Society NEWS RELEASE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 2005 J. Sanford Saltus Award and Stephen K. Scher Lecture

The American Numismatic Society's J. Sanford Saltus Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Art of the Medal will be presented on Saturday, September 17, 2005, to the acclaimed Netherlandish sculptor Theo van de Vathorst. The recognition ceremony will be held at 3:30 p.m., at the headquarters of the American Numismatic Society, located at 140 William Street (at Fulton).  

Theo van de Vathorst has long been recognized as a unique talent on the international scene in medallic sculpture. Born in 1934 in Utrecht, where he has worked and made his living as an artist since 1962, van de Vathorst was trained as a sculptor at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam, where he studied under Paul Gregoire and Vincent Esser.

The J. Sanford Saltus Award, instituted by the American Numismatic Society in 1919, is presented periodically to recognize an individual among the foremost artists in this field. It is considered to be the most prestigious such prize.

Following the award presentation will be the Stephen K. Scher Lecture entitled "Suddenly Mad about Portraits: Creating a Taste for German Renaissance Medals and Sculptures," delivered by American art historian Dr. Jeffrey Chipps Smith. The talk focuses on the phenomenon of portraiture seizing the public's fancy during the first half of the sixteenth century. Dr. Smith is the Kay Fortson Chair in European Art at the University of Texas, Austin.

An exhibition of the works of van de Vathorst, accompanied by a selection of German Renaissance medals from the ANS cabinet, will complement the events. Following will be a cocktail reception at the ANS and a dinner, at 7:00 p.m., to be held at The 14 Wall Street Restaurant, 31 st Floor Penthouse. Dinner is $50 per person. R.S.V.P. necessary to attend.

For further information, or to RSVP, please contact Juliette Pelletier, Membership, Development and Events Manager, (212) 571-4470 ext. 1311, pelletier@numismatics.org