Fürst von Schwarzenberg in de Slag bij Leipzig 1813 1813

This silver medal was crafted by Johann Thomas Stettner to commemorate the Battle of Leipzig in 1813. Such commemorative medals, like paintings and sculptures, played a key role in constructing historical narratives, especially about the rise and fall of political figures. Here, we see Prince Karl Philipp von Schwarzenberg, an Austrian field marshal, celebrated for his leadership against Napoleon. The medal encapsulates the political currents of early 19th-century Europe, specifically the shifting alliances against Napoleonic France. Leipzig, on the reverse, is presented as the site of German liberation. These medals, distributed among the elite, reinforced nationalist sentiments and legitimized the restored monarchies. To truly understand this medal, we delve into archives, political pamphlets, and the biographies of key figures like Schwarzenberg. In doing so we recognize the complex ways in which art, even in its most functional forms, reflects and shapes the social and political landscape of its time.