Oprichting van een standbeeld voor Jozef II, Duits keizer Op de Jozefsplatz te Wenen 1806

This silver medal by Johann Nepomuk Wurth commemorates the raising of a statue of Joseph II in Vienna. The medal testifies to the role of public art in shaping the image of the emperor. Made in Austria, we can see on one side a profile of Joseph II, reflecting the classical traditions of portraiture and referencing imperial Rome. The other side shows the equestrian statue in the Josefplatz itself, reminding us of the physical location where this political theater played out. The medal acts as a kind of miniature public monument, a portable piece of propaganda that circulates the emperor’s image. It would be interesting to know how this was commissioned. Who was it aimed at? And how effective was it in shaping the Austrian public’s view of its ruler? By delving into the archives, we can start to uncover the networks of patronage and influence that underpinned the creation and distribution of such objects. The medal reminds us that art is never neutral: it always reflects the social conditions of its making.