Bevrijding van Spanje en Portugal door de hertog van Wellington 1812

This is a medal, likely made in 1812, commemorating the Duke of Wellington's military successes in the Iberian Peninsula. The anonymous maker celebrates Wellington's role in "delivering" Portugal and "relieving" Spain. In the context of European history, this medal speaks to the complex politics of imagery and the social conditions shaping artistic production. The politics of the time were dominated by the Napoleonic wars, and the Iberian Peninsula was a key battleground. The medal uses visual codes and cultural references, such as the laurel wreath, which traditionally symbolizes victory, to create meaning. It tells a story of political and military power that would be understood at that time, but is lost on us today. Careful historical research, and a better understanding of the medal's institutional context, would give us a clearer insight into its original social role.