Eerste verdrag betreffende de Spaanse erfopvolging 1698

This bronze medal, commemorating the first treaty regarding the Spanish succession, was crafted by an anonymous maker. The medal’s creation involved skilled metalworking, likely using techniques like casting or striking to achieve its detailed relief. The choice of bronze, a durable yet relatively common material, speaks to a desire for permanence, and perhaps wider circulation. Its inherent qualities of weight and texture, combined with the imagery, imbue the medal with symbolic value. The imagery itself, rendered through careful handwork, serves to communicate power and political stability. Each element, from the arrangement of figures to the inscribed text, would have been meticulously planned and executed. The very act of producing and distributing such medals underscores the importance of propagating a particular narrative. Looking at the medal, we can appreciate the artistry, and also recognize the intricate relationship between materials, making, and the social context in which this object was created.