Karel, graaf d'Oultremont, prins-bisschop van Luik 1764

This silver medal portraying Karel, graaf d'Oultremont, prins-bisschop van Luik, was created by Philippe Joseph Jacoby. The circular form, a structure that inherently suggests continuity and containment, presents two distinct yet related scenes. On one side, we see a profile portrait of Karel, meticulously detailed, surrounded by an inscription that curves to mirror the medal’s edge. The sharp lines of the engraving create texture and contrast, emphasizing the subject’s features. On the reverse, there is an allegorical scene, more fluid in its execution, where figures and symbols combine to convey a narrative. The contrast between the defined portrait and the more open, symbolic representation on the reverse suggests a dialogue between the individual and the ideals they represent. This medal functions as a semiotic object, where the imagery and text converge to communicate power, virtue, and a complex interplay of personal and political identity.