Promotie met de kap te Utrecht 1643

This silver medal, designed by Roelof van Cuylenburch, commemorates a doctoral promotion at Utrecht. Cuylenburch lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented economic growth and cultural flourishing for the Dutch Republic. Look at the imagery chosen to represent the pursuit of knowledge and academic achievement. What does it suggest about the values and beliefs of the time? On one side, angels crown a man with a laurel wreath, symbolizing victory and honor. This imagery highlights the social status and prestige associated with academic success in 17th-century Dutch society. The inscriptions, in Latin, reinforce the solemnity and importance of the occasion. Consider this medal as a historical artifact reflecting the social and intellectual life of the Dutch Golden Age. It encapsulates the era's values, and provides a glimpse into the lived experience of those who navigated its complex social structures.