Thomas Cranmer, aartsbisschop van Canterbury, levend verbrand te Oxford 1725

This medal of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, was created by Jean Dassier. Its circular form, like a coin, might initially suggest a celebration, yet the somber rendering and weighty material evoke a darker narrative. Dassier employs a high level of detail, especially in Cranmer's profile, using sharp lines to define his features. This detailed portrait is juxtaposed with the medal's reverse, dominated by uniform text. This contrast creates a visual tension between the individual and the institution, questioning fixed identities and the power structures that define them. The inscription commemorates Cranmer's burning at the stake. However, the objective typography used stands in stark contrast to the emotional weight of the event. In this way, Dassier’s design invites us to consider how historical narratives are constructed and the formal devices through which memory and meaning are encoded in art.