Bemiddeling van Graaf De Montalembert tussen België en Frankrijk 1838 1838

This bronze medal, made by Julien Gabriel Leclercq in 1838, features a profile portrait and commemorative text. Note how the circular form dictates the composition, creating two distinct yet related visual fields on either side. One side presents a high-relief profile of Count de Montalembert, encircled by an inscription. The crisp lines of the portrait contrast with the softer, more textural quality of the hair, creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow that animates the face. The other side is dominated by meticulously inscribed text. The uniformity of the lettering, framed by a wreath, creates a sense of order and clarity, emblematic of the values – justice and liberty – that the medal commemorates. The medal is not merely a historical artifact, but a sophisticated interplay of form and content. It invites reflection on how societies choose to remember and valorize historical figures and events. The materiality and design emphasize a reading of the historical moment, while the medal's aesthetic construction contributes to its symbolic power.