Christiaan Rumpf, afgezant van Holland in Zweden 1677

This silver medal of Christiaan Rumpf, emissary of Holland in Sweden, was made by Arvid Karlsteen, a Swedish medalist, in the late 17th century. It testifies to the close ties between Holland and Sweden during the Dutch Golden Age. The portrait of Rumpf is in keeping with the period's fashion for representing dignitaries; but what are we to make of the symbol on the reverse side? We see a hand holding a torch above a burning pyre with the words "concordia res parvae crescunt" - "in harmony, small things grow". The medal references the alliance between the two countries, and the importance of unity for the Dutch Republic. By studying the history of the Dutch Republic and the biographies of its emissaries, we can come to a fuller understanding of the role of art as an instrument of diplomacy.