Biographical dictionary of medallists: coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, &c., ancient and modern, with references to their works B. C. 500-A. D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer ...

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of the artist. He depicts his.subject thoroughly after his own heart
and his plaques show a variety of attitudes hitherto rarely seen in
plastic art. There is no stiffness, no constraint, no posing. Although
entirely free from conventionalism Hedley can hardly be styled a
modern artist as "modernity" is understood, nowadays, and
though his portraits are essentially impressions, he is not an
Impressionist; in fact, he belongs to no special creed; he is an
artist, free and natural, with a characteristic style which is all his
own.
It is interesting to note that all his latest creations, as for instance
some of the Elgar portraits, the plaques of Dr. Richter, Mllle Clara
Butt, Arthur Nikisch, Miss Lily Elsie, Lewis Waller, Pelissier,
etc., etc. were impressions fixed upon the mind and entirely reproduced from internal reflection. He very rarely requires "sittings",
and even it he does ask his subjects to his studio he seldom works in
their presence, merely contenting himself with a chat over a cup of
tea, in order to study their character and peculiarities.
Portrait-medal of Dr Elgar, by Hedley.
It is this power of observation, and the unusual faculty of retaining the characteristics and details of the features, combined with
the complete mastery over all technical difficulties, which lies at
the bottom of his extraordinary success.
To repeat a recent remark of a well-known sculptor, " Hedley's
plaques are veritable paintings", and indeed they give more the
impression of pictures than sculptures.
The artist is now (1920) residing at Geneva (Switzerland).