Geboorte van aartshertog Jozef van Oostenrijk, zoon van Frans III Stephanus, hertog van Lotharingen en Maria Theresia 1741

This silver medal, crafted by Peter Paul Werner, commemorates the birth of Archduke Joseph of Austria, son of Francis III and Maria Theresa. It is a fascinating object through which to consider the public role of art in the 18th century. On one side, we see the conjoined profiles of his parents along with a smaller profile of Joseph himself. This imagery constructs the idea of dynastic succession. The other side shows an allegorical landscape with the inscription "Aevum dem temporum reparatio," or "The age is dawning for the reparation of the times." This suggests a moment of renewal and hope associated with the birth of the new archduke. Made without a specific date, the medal speaks to the social conditions of the time in which royal births were not merely private events but matters of state. Minted objects like these functioned as propaganda, reinforcing the legitimacy and continuity of the ruling family. The interpretation of art requires a deep dive into its historical and institutional context. Primary sources, such as letters, diaries, and official documents, can shed light on the social meanings that may once have been attached to them.