Hans David Ludwig graaf Yorck von Wartenburg 1815

Editor: Here we have a bronze relief from 1815, a medal really, by Daniel Friedrich Loos depicting Hans David Ludwig graaf Yorck von Wartenburg. The patina gives it such a weight of history. I'm curious, what stands out to you about this particular piece? Curator: It whispers stories of ambition and commemoration, doesn't it? Medals like this were, and are, small time capsules. Looking at it, I'm transported back to a post-Napoleonic Europe, still catching its breath. Notice the laurel wreath embracing Yorck’s profile—a timeless symbol of victory and honor, almost cliché, yet rendered with such crisp detail here. But look closely – what does the *reverse* side suggest to you? Editor: Well, it looks like a coat of arms...pretty standard fare for the time? Does it give any clues beyond his lineage or status? Curator: It's more than *just* status, dear editor! These weren’t mere decorations; they were carefully crafted statements. The coat of arms isn't just a family identifier but speaks volumes about Yorck's allegiances, his victories. Now, knowing this medal was made in 1815, what major historical event do you think shaped its creation? Editor: 1815... that's the year of the Battle of Waterloo. So this must have been commissioned to celebrate…something. Curator: Precisely! Think of Yorck's role in the Napoleonic Wars – his controversial decision to break ranks with the Prussian army and negotiate a truce with the Russians, which paved the way for the Sixth Coalition. This medal isn't just celebrating victory; it's immortalizing a pivotal, yet complicated, act of defiance. Editor: Wow, I hadn’t considered the…complicated defiance aspect. Now I’m seeing it less as just a commemorative object, more a physical embodiment of a very pivotal moment in history! Curator: Exactly! It goes beyond mere historical record. It’s a prompt for reflection; each raised line tells a nuanced tale. A celebration and an encapsulation all at once, forever forging an instant of the past.