Inname van Kortrijk, Sint Winoksbergen en Mardijk 1699 - 1703

Editor: Here we have a bronze medal called "Inname van Kortrijk, Sint Winoksbergen en Mardijk" crafted between 1699 and 1703 by Jean Mauger. The Baroque style is pretty apparent. What strikes me is how it condenses historical events into this small object, like a time capsule. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Indeed. Medals such as these served as powerful symbols, miniature monuments circulating narratives of power. Note the inscription “LUDOVICUS XIIII REX CHRISTIANISSIMUS”. How does the term Christianissimus--Most Christian King-- strike you? Editor: It definitely infuses a sense of divinely sanctioned authority, as though his actions were blessed by God. Curator: Precisely. And turning to the other side, we see an allegorical figure, winged Victory. Victory wasn’t simply about military might; it signified divine favor, an endorsement of the King's righteousness. Observe what Victory carries, those symbolic objects, indicative of conquered territories. Can you infer what those symbols would mean to viewers in that time? Editor: Perhaps those symbols reassured the intended audience, but also reminded the defeated cities of their loss. Curator: Absolutely. Remember that medals functioned within a complex visual language. To fully decode them, we must understand not only the overt declarations, but also the subtle gestures encoded within. Editor: It’s amazing how much these compact artworks carry. Thank you for providing this framework of symbols. Curator: My pleasure. The imagery is fascinating, and I plan to study the medals further!