Dora de Pedery-Hunt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dora de Pédery
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| Born | November 16, 1913 Budapest, Hungary
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| Died | September 29, 2008 (aged 94) Toronto, Ontario
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Education | Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest, Hungary, until 1943 |
| Known for | sculptor, medalist, designer of coins; teacher |
| Spouse(s) | Vela Hunt |
| Awards | Member in 1966, Royal Canadian Academy; Canada Council grant (1958); Centennial Medal (1967); Honorary LL.D., York University (1983) |
Dora de Pédery-Hunt (born November 16, 1913 – died September 29, 2008) was a talented artist from Hungary who became a Canadian citizen. She was a sculptor, which means she made art by shaping materials. She also designed special medals and even coins! A cool fact is that she was the very first Canadian citizen to design the image of Queen Elizabeth II for coins.
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Her Early Life and Journey to Canada
Dora de Pédery was born in Budapest, Hungary, on November 16, 1913. Her family loved music, learning, and reading. Her father was a scientist and a great piano player, and her mother often sang and told stories. Dora and her two sisters were always encouraged to follow their dreams and use their talents.
Dora first studied science and architecture. But at age 24, she decided art was her true calling. She studied sculpture for six years at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts in Budapest. She earned her Masters Diploma in Sculpture in 1943.
When World War II was happening, German soldiers took control of Hungary in 1944. Dora's family was worried about the war moving closer, so they moved west to Germany. Five years later, Dora moved to Canada. She arrived in Toronto and worked as a housekeeper for a year. After that, she became a high school art teacher. She also took on other small jobs, like painting designs on furniture.
In 1949, Dora married Vela Hunt, a journalist she had known in Germany. They later divorced in 1961. Dora de Pédery-Hunt passed away in Toronto, Ontario, on September 29, 2008.
Her Amazing Art Work
After getting married, Dora de Pédery-Hunt spent seven years working on her sculptures in her free time, often right on her kitchen table! In 1956, she made a large stone portrait of her friend, Frances Loring, who was also a sculptor. Dora showed this portrait at the Canadian National Exhibition. There, Alan Jarvis, the director of the National Gallery of Canada, saw it. He was also a sculptor and recognized Dora's talent. He helped the National Gallery buy her sculpture for their collection. This was her first big art sale in Canada!
Dora became very interested in making medallions, which are like small, round sculptures. With encouragement from Alan Jarvis, she received a grant in 1958. This allowed her to travel and study medals in museums and cathedrals across Europe. When she returned to Toronto, she decided to focus on the art of medal-making. Her first important job was to create a medal for the Canada Council to honor excellence in arts and sciences. In 1961, she designed a bronze medallion that showed music, dance, literature, painting, and sculpture.
Dora was a founding member of the Canadian Portrait Academy and the Medallic Art Society of Canada. She often represented Canada at international art medal events. She was also a member of the Sculptors Society of Canada and the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
Besides creating art, Dora also taught sculpture. She taught at Toronto's Northern Vocational School, the Women's Art Association, and the Ontario College of Art.
One of her most famous designs is the image of Queen Elizabeth II that was used on Canadian coins starting in 1990. She also designed a medal of Sir Donald Alexander Smith that was used on a Canadian postage stamp. Two of her portraits of Dr. Frances Loring are kept at the National Gallery of Canada.
Throughout her career, Dora de Pédery-Hunt designed over 600 medals! She also made many small bronze sculptures that honored Canadian heroes. Her works can be seen in over 70 major museums around the world.
Coins for the Royal Canadian Mint
Dora de Pédery-Hunt designed the image of Queen Elizabeth II for Canadian coins. She also designed several special gold coins for the Royal Canadian Mint.
| Year | Theme | Finish | Mintage | Issue Price |
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| 1976 | Olympic Commemorative | Proof | 650,000 | $105.00 |
| 1976 | Olympic Commemorative (22k) | Proof | 350,000 | $150.00 |
| 1986 | International Year of Peace | Proof | 76,255 | $325.00 |
Famous Medals She Designed
Here are some of the notable medals Dora de Pédery-Hunt created:
- Inco 1st nickel production medallion (1961)
- Susanna and the Elders (1961)
- Head of Virgin Mary (1963)
- Head of Christ (1963)
- Dante (1965)
- Dante and Beatrice (1965)
- Medal for the 100th birthday of The National Archives of Canada (1963)
- Norman Bethune Medal, given to Mao Zedong by Pierre Trudeau in 1973.
- The J. B. Harkin medal for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
- Canadian Government official medal for Expo 70 in Osaka, Japan
- John Drainie Award medal for the Association of Canadian Television and Radio Artists
- The Reach for the Top Award for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
- The 1981 Canadian Numismatic Association Convention Medal
- The A. J. Casson Award for the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour, in 1991.
- A medal for the city of Toronto's 200th birthday in 1993.
- The Ontario Association of Architects' Raymore Medal.
- Norman Bethune Medal, given to China by Justin Trudeau in 2016.
Awards and Honors
Dora de Pédery-Hunt received many awards for her amazing work:
- Centennial Medal (1967)
- Officer of the Order of Canada (1974)
- Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) from York University (1983)
