Among the exhibits of the Museum of Local Lore connected with the Patriotic War of 1812, a special place is occupied by a mold for casting a medallion depicting Alexander I. Works of many artists, including the engraver Ivan Anfimovich Shilov (1788 -1827), were dedicated to Russian emperior, who won a victory over the Napoleonic army. The artist was born in Yekaterinburg in the family of a master of a cutting factory. Due to the efforts of the president of the Academy of Arts of Count Stroganov, Ivan was accepted into the medal class of the Academy, from which he graduated in 1805 with a second silver medal. In 1810 being an employee of the Mint I.A. Shilov received the title of academician. With the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812 Ivan Anfimovich joined the ranks of the national militia and after the war in 1815-1825 he taught at the Academy Medal Class.
I.A. Shilov was especially successful in depicting the Russian emperor Alexander I. He so accurately conveyed the expression on his face and the character of the king that his works were taken for originals, from which portraits of the emperor were made on medals. In 1816 the master made a sketch of a faience mold for casting a medallion depicting a Greek warrior with a sword in his right hand, personified Alexander I. Today a mold for a casting and a medallion made by a master (master V. Galeb) can be seen in one of the museum halls.
