Stillen van het aansprekersoproer te Amsterdam, penning aan de gewapende burgers vereerd 1696

Editor: So, here we have a metal relief from 1696 by Reynier Arondeaux titled "Stillen van het aansprekersoproer te Amsterdam, penning aan de gewapende burgers vereerd." Phew, that’s a mouthful. It’s a circular medal, and the detail is amazing! There's this really striking figure of a sea god, Neptune perhaps, and then the other side has text and a rising sun. How do you interpret this work? What jumps out at you? Curator: Well, for starters, isn’t it fantastic? This medal really captures the swagger of the Dutch Golden Age. These medals were like little news reports, souvenirs almost. "Stillen van het aansprekersoproer…" refers to the suppression of the riots in Amsterdam, the "aansprekers" being the undertakers who triggered the unrest. Arondeaux commemorates the armed citizens who quelled the riot. What do you think Neptune signifies here? Editor: Hmm… power, maybe? Control of the seas, thus of trade…Amsterdam’s dominance? Curator: Exactly! See how he 'composes' the waves, brings them under control? One side boasts Latin text praising the loyalty of Amsterdam's citizens; the other depicts Neptune, the sun rising in the background representing hope. Arondeaux packs a punch using classical and contemporary symbolism. Doesn’t that rising sun seem particularly optimistic given the preceding unrest? Editor: It does! Almost like a propaganda piece…but beautifully rendered. I initially just saw a pretty medal, now I see the story it’s telling, the subtle messaging at play. Curator: And the pride baked into every line! A miniature marvel of power, politics, and, indeed, art.