Kroning van Karel XI tot koning van Zweden 1675

Curator: This silver engraving, crafted around 1675 by Anton Meybusch, captures the coronation of Charles XI of Sweden. It's titled, fittingly, "Kroning van Karel XI tot koning van Zweden." What's your first take? Editor: It looks serious and a little… stern? The metal gives it this austere, almost cold feeling. You’ve got Charles’ profile on one side, classic regal imagery, and then on the other side… a supplicant? What’s that all about? Curator: Precisely. On the obverse, we see the profile of Charles XI, his name inscribed and wreathed in laurel. The reverse depicts a kneeling figure, being honored, perhaps divinely ordained as indicated by the floating crown. Editor: Ah, so it’s about legitimacy. God's seal of approval pressed onto a silver coin! That crown hovering like a ghostly halo – that's a nice touch of baroque drama. But isn't it a bit on the nose? "Jovem dat servabit honorem." Who gives, will keep honour? Did they really need to spell it out? Curator: The inscription serves to reinforce the divine right of kings, a key element of Baroque political ideology. Also, observe the rendering of volume using a delicate chiseling technique on a tiny surface—a common trait in metalwork. Editor: Agreed, technically, it’s a masterclass in miniature storytelling. You’ve got symbolism layered on symbolism. But that icy, unwavering profile... does it communicate power, or just a deep unease with being a king? Maybe both, maybe that’s the point. Curator: One could certainly argue that Meybusch’s work encapsulates the dual pressures of sovereignty: divinely sanctioned yet intimately personal, a theme echoed through the juxtaposition of portrait and scene. Editor: Makes you think about the weight of a crown, doesn’t it? Beyond the politics and symbolism, there’s just… metal. Hard, cold, unyielding, reflecting back whatever light you shine on it. An object reflecting history, power, and the complicated business of being king. Curator: A concise and thoughtful observation of an artefact and its reverberations throughout the historical process.