Hulde van Leidse jonkvrouwen aan de uitgetrokken Leidse studenten 1831

This medal was created by David van der Kellen in the Netherlands in the mid-19th century, and it commemorates the actions of Dutch students during the cholera epidemic of 1850-1851. Medals such as this were often commissioned by civic institutions to celebrate events of local or national importance. The imagery on this medal uses classical allegories to elevate the students to the status of national heroes. On one side, a female figure, perhaps representing the city of Leiden, offers a laurel wreath, a symbol of honor and victory. The other side of the medal bears an inscription surrounded by a wreath of roses, another symbol of honor and love. The medal speaks to the 19th-century preoccupation with romantic nationalism and the perceived importance of the university in shaping national identity. Art historians consult municipal archives and university records to better understand the relationship between art, civic institutions, and social movements. Examining the historical context helps us interpret the medal's visual language and its role in constructing national identity.