Geboorte van Willem Frederik, erfprins van Oranje-Nassau 1772

This silver medal commemorating the birth of William Frederick, the hereditary prince of Orange-Nassau, was created by Theodorus Victor van Berckel in the 18th century. Medals like these, though small in scale, played a large role in shaping public perception of political figures in the Dutch Republic. Here, William Frederick is rendered in profile on one side in a classical style, while the other side depicts a personification of the Dutch Republic being blessed by angels. The Latin inscription, "God of venerable rulers," further elevates the prince to a position of divine right. As such, this medal is a clear example of how the Orange-Nassau family used imagery to bolster their authority and legitimize their rule. To fully understand this work, one should investigate the print culture of the Dutch Republic, as well as the history of the House of Orange-Nassau and their often fraught relationship with the Dutch people. In this way we can understand art's place within a broader social and institutional context.