Overlijden van de hertog van Wellington, overwinnaar in de slag bij Waterloo 1852

This is a commemorative medal depicting the Duke of Wellington, made of silver in Britain, sometime after his death in 1852. The medal’s imagery is fascinating in terms of social and institutional history. We see a profile of Wellington, the celebrated military leader. The reverse depicts Britannia mourning, alongside an angel, with a lion at her feet, next to the dates of Wellington’s birth and death. The inclusion of Britannia and the lion, symbols of Great Britain, transform a personal death into a national event. The medal operates as a form of public art. The need to commemorate Wellington, the hero of Waterloo, speaks to the need for national heroes in Britain and perhaps to legitimize the British Empire through its military prowess. Examining such an object in the light of newspapers, political pamphlets, and the records of medal-making societies, we can better understand the role of art and imagery in shaping national identity.