Pieter Adriaansz. van der Werff, burgemeester van Leiden tijdens het beleg 1669 - 1693

This silver medal of Pieter Adriaansz. van der Werff, the mayor of Leiden during the siege, was made by Jan Smeltzing in the late 17th century. The medal commemorates the siege of Leiden in 1574, a key event in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. The visual codes employed here elevate van der Werff to a heroic status. The portrait mimics the style of classical busts, associating him with Roman virtues of leadership and stoicism. The reverse side features an inscription praising van der Werff's courage and steadfastness, reinforcing the medal's propagandistic function. As an art historian, I'm interested in how institutions like the mint shaped historical narratives. Medals like these were powerful tools for constructing and disseminating national myths. Examining archival documents, such as city records and guild papers, can reveal more about the social and political context in which these medals were produced and circulated.