Laatste ontmoeting tussen Lodewijk XVI en Marie Antoinette 1793

This medal by William Mossop captures the poignant final encounter between Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The reverse illustrates the king bidding farewell to his family. Gestures speak volumes here. Notice the bowed figure, a timeless symbol of grief and submission, echoing poses found in ancient Roman funerary art and even medieval religious scenes. The act of kneeling, laden with centuries of evolving significance, shifts from reverence to despair in this revolutionary context. The queen’s raised hand is a gesture of supplication. We have seen this same gesture in antiquity—Roman orators used it, and we can see it in countless images of Mary Magdalene. Such visual echoes reveal how deeply ingrained these archetypes are within our collective consciousness. The artist taps into our shared memory, evoking a powerful emotional response as we witness the tragic downfall of a royal family. This medal reminds us of how symbols persist, evolve, and resurface, carrying the weight of history into the present.