Verheffing van Willem IV, prins van Oranje-Nassau tot stadhouder 1747

Curator: What strikes me first is its sheer preciousness. Look at the intricate details, the way the light catches the metal...it feels almost intimate, like a secret talisman. Editor: This exquisite metal relief commemorates the elevation of Willem IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau, to Stadtholder in 1747, crafted by Martin Holtzhey. Curator: Stadtholder, you say? It's more than just a pretty trinket then. Was this some kind of PR exercise? Editor: Precisely. Think of it as early propaganda, or better yet, an early modern collectible. The Dutch Republic had experienced a period without a Stadtholder, and Willem IV's appointment was a significant moment. Objects like these were distributed to celebrate and legitimize his power. Curator: A potent little power move disguised as bling! You've got the profile portrait on one side, the crowned heraldic shield of his House on the other, almost a double affirmation of his leadership. Do you notice how both sides give the impression of depth, the figures really come up from the surface. Editor: Exactly, notice the Baroque flourishes too. All to inspire the population to support their leader at this important historic moment. And yet its actual influence would be much reduced as similar objects flooded the markets. What would you have done, if handed this artifact? Curator: I imagine I would polish it daily, the better to reflect power. A beautiful item that reminds us how art, even in miniature, has often played a huge role in society, giving shape and image to historical moments and the exercise of power. Editor: Indeed. It’s fascinating how something so small could carry so much political weight, speaking volumes about the values and priorities of the time.