Minerva Encouraging the State [reverse] 1747

Johann Christian Marmé created this metal roundel, or medal, in the mid-18th century. It allegorically links classical imagery to the concept of good governance. Made in the Holy Roman Empire, the image shows the goddess Minerva, embodying wisdom and strategic warfare, encouraging the state. She sits near a tree laden with fruit, a symbol of prosperity, whilst gesturing towards a blazing altar, perhaps representing sacrifice or dedication to civic duty. In the cultural context of the Enlightenment, such imagery reinforced ideals of enlightened leadership and the importance of reason, justice, and prosperity in governance. Marmé, whose name is inscribed at the bottom, was part of a network of artists producing works of political messaging in coin and medal form. The historian can use such artifacts, alongside period documents, to explore the visual language used to promote political ideologies and to understand the cultural values of the time. The medal is a reminder that art always exists within a specific social and institutional framework.