Tweede vrede van Parijs tussen Frankrijk en de geallieerden, ter ere van George, prins-regent van Engeland 1815

This bronze medal, created by Thomas Halliday, commemorates the Second Peace of Paris. Note how Halliday uses the circular form to create two distinct yet interconnected scenes, almost like two sides of the same coin. One side presents a profile of George, Prince Regent, encircled by text, a classic example of how portraiture can embody power. The other side is where Halliday uses allegory to convey the idea of peace. We see draped figures and a winged angel hovering above a prostrate figure, presumably representing conflict and resolution. The visual language here speaks to the structured symbolic system of neoclassicism. The figures, rendered in relief, are strategically placed to convey a sense of balance. While seemingly straightforward in its message, the medal embodies complex power dynamics. It prompts us to reflect on how peace is not merely an absence of conflict but a carefully constructed representation, open to interpretation.