Overlijden van Jean Calvijn 1725

Jean Dassier made this silver medal depicting the death of Jean Calvin. Calvin was a French theologian, pastor and reformer during the Protestant Reformation. Dassier worked in Geneva, a city that embraced Calvin’s reforms, so this piece participates in a local cultural investment. The medal's imagery serves as a coded representation of Calvin’s life and legacy. On one side, we see a profile portrait of Calvin himself, a visual declaration of his importance and status. On the other side is an inscription commemorating him as the ‘restorer of Christianity in France.’ Such textual references are carefully chosen to reinforce specific narratives and historical interpretations, and this medal subtly asserts a particular view of religious and political history in 18th century Europe. Understanding the cultural context, particularly the religious and political climate of Geneva and France at the time, is crucial to interpreting the medal's significance. Analyzing such an artwork requires an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on historical archives, theological texts, and art historical analysis to fully appreciate its meaning and impact.