Portrait medal of Antoine Perrenot Granvelle (obverse); Don Juan of Austria Receiving the Standard from Granvelle (reverse) 1571

This bronze medal, crafted by Giovanni V. Melon between 1565 and 1590, presents Antoine Perrenot Granvelle, a cardinal, his profile encircled by his name. The reverse depicts Don Juan of Austria receiving a standard, a flag, from Granvelle. The act of handing over a standard has ancient roots, symbolizing the transfer of power and authority. This gesture echoes across history, from Roman emperors bestowing eagles upon their legions to medieval knights receiving banners blessed by the church. In each instance, the symbolic weight remains constant, a visual shorthand for entrusting leadership and command. Think of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the wind whipping her garments, embodies triumph and divine favor. Similarly, the standard being passed here is not merely cloth and wood. It carries with it the weight of expectation, the hopes of victory, and the specter of defeat. These symbols tap into our collective memory, a shared understanding of power, duty, and destiny, engaging us on a subconscious level. The standard, therefore, is more than a symbol of authority in this instance; it is a vessel of transferred hope, a potent image that resonates through time.