Vrede van Breda en vernietiging van de Engelse vloot bij Chatham (Mala Bestia-penning) 1667

Editor: This striking silver medal, crafted by Christoffel Adolphi in 1667, commemorates the "Peace of Breda and Destruction of the English Fleet at Chatham". It's powerfully symbolic, but a bit dense for me. How do you interpret this work's visual language? Curator: It's a fascinating layering of symbols indeed. Note how the imagery recalls classical allegories, presenting abstract concepts like peace and victory through human and animal forms. The figure of Dutch virtue, perhaps, stands triumphant. What do you notice under her foot? Editor: It looks like she is stepping on a defeated female figure, while a lion rests beside her. And there is a lamb, looking up to the standing figure... Are these all symbols related to England and The Netherlands? Curator: Precisely! The subjugated figure traditionally represents England, with the lion symbolizing its might now pacified. The lamb embodies innocence, or perhaps the economic interests the Dutch sought to protect. See how these elements create a narrative far beyond a simple record of events? And what of the second side of the medal, the standing woman holding what looks to be a serpent? Editor: That woman must be symbolizing peace then. The snake wrapped around the staff seems like an interesting attribute, probably drawing on a Greek or Roman symbol for medicine or well-being. Does that mean the medal is advocating that diplomacy be used? Curator: A fine observation! Absolutely, it underscores the aspiration for lasting stability secured through a treaty, evoking a hope for continued harmony. Editor: I hadn't considered how densely packed these seemingly simple images could be with historical and cultural meaning. It gives me a new perspective on the power of symbols. Curator: Indeed. By studying the symbolic language employed, we can gain insight into the cultural values, beliefs, and psychological nuances embedded in art and historical memory.