Inname van Douai 1710

Cast in 1710, Christian Wermuth's silver medal commemorates the capture of Douai. Wermuth worked in the Baroque style, a period marked by grand displays of power and religious conflict across Europe. The medal’s imagery operates as propaganda, intertwining political events with gendered and religious allegories. One side depicts the fall of Douai using the biblical story of Samson and Delilah, framing the city as feminine and vulnerable to male conquest, reinforcing patriarchal power structures. While the other side shows Louis XIV and Anne of Great Britain, accompanied by the inscription: "Il faut s'accommoder a ses ordres", "It is necessary to comply with his orders". Wermuth’s work thus reflects the complex interplay of religion, gender, and political ambition of the era. These symbols were tools used to shape public opinion and legitimize the actions of rulers. The medal not only celebrates a military victory but also uses gendered religious narratives to promote specific identities.