Franche Comte in tien dagen veroverd, rekenpenning geslagen ter ere van Lodewijk XIV, koning van Frankrijk 1668

Curator: This is a rekenpenning, a medal, commemorating Louis XIV’s swift conquest of Franche-Comté in 1668. It's part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. The Baroque style is evident even on this small scale. Editor: It’s surprisingly martial, even boastful. It is difficult to imagine that the intention of the work is simply financial. The low relief and dark metal contribute to a severe, perhaps even aggressive, aesthetic. Curator: Exactly! These weren't merely monetary objects; they functioned as propaganda tools, symbols of royal power circulated among elites. This one celebrates a very specific victory in a very particular way. The figure of the King with text is powerful in its reference and scale, and it is intentionally provocative given the historic power struggle. Editor: I'm struck by the contrast between the detailed portrait of Louis XIV on one side and the allegorical scene on the other. Note the figure of a lion cowering behind a barred gate – is it meant to symbolize the conquered region? The technical skill apparent in rendering these complex compositions in such a diminutive format is, itself, remarkable, if not even symbolic in that achievement. Curator: Indeed. The lion behind bars serves as a clear symbol of submission, reinforcing the narrative of French dominance and its historical impact. Consider its societal reception; these medals visually and tangibly cemented Louis XIV's image as an indomitable leader and French territorial ambitions in that particular time and place. It functioned as an early media blitz! Editor: Thinking about just the composition for a moment, that contrast between the proud figure and the allegorical figures on each side is fascinating. It creates a dynamic tension. This medal becomes more than just a commemorative object; it's a study in contrasts and visual storytelling that can't simply be dismissed given it's seemingly practical purpose. Curator: A perfect observation that illuminates how an object's functionality never fully accounts for the artistic message it conveys and it makes plain how such messaging impacts social understandings. Editor: So true. And focusing on this level of craftsmanship and deliberate contrasts brings us into new layers of insight about this potent small object.