Slag bij Malplaquet 1709

This medal commemorating the Battle of Malplaquet was crafted by John Croker, an engraver working in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Note the winged Victory, floating ethereally above the battlefield, a motif stretching back to ancient Greece and Rome. She embodies triumph, but also carries echoes of mortality and the ephemerality of glory. Consider how this allegorical figure resonates with similar images across time. We might recall Nike of Samothrace, or even Renaissance depictions of angels. What threads connect these symbols across centuries? Victory's presence here—amidst a scene of conflict— speaks to a deep psychological need to find meaning in chaos. This is a visual language of power and control, yet also a poignant reminder of the human cost of victory. The motif resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.