Huwelijk van Lodewijk XV, koning van Frankrijk en Maria Lesczcynski, prinses van Polen te Berlijn, rekenpenning geslagen ter ere van A. Rotenbourg, 'orator Galliae' 1725

Curator: Here we have a medal created by François Joseph Marteau in 1725. The inscription tells us it commemorates the marriage of Louis XV and Maria Leszczynska. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It looks like something you might find buried in your garden – timeworn, silvery. Despite the formal subject, it evokes a sense of personal history, like a cherished heirloom passed down through generations. Curator: Let's delve into its formal aspects. Note the high relief, a hallmark of baroque style. The obverse side features a pair of clasped hands beneath a crown, placed above a pedestal. What does this union of symbols suggest to you? Editor: To me, it's a representation of power and partnership. The crown is regal, and the clasped hands denote agreement – the wedding vow in physical form. But there’s also something fragile in the weathered silver; history doesn’t treat everyone kindly. Curator: Quite. The reverse offers an inscription surrounded by a laurel wreath, reinforcing the occasion's importance. Marteau has structured the composition to give the eye clear, balanced zones. Editor: It feels weighty, important. Even something as small as this, crafted from metal, could speak volumes. Consider the political power represented – it’s more than just surface decoration. And those baroque flourishes—so extravagant! What would it feel like to hold a piece of such loaded history in your hand? It's fascinating. Curator: These medals also played a propaganda role; consider them a 18th-century press release. The medal promoted France as the most cultured court in Europe, thanks to these carefully designed visual elements. Editor: The medal almost transforms time itself – taking us back, to witness a key moment. It becomes tangible and tactile and allows our thoughts to reflect on how empires rose, loved, and then declined. Curator: I've considered Marteau's calculated decisions and his commitment to communicating dynastic messages effectively through art. Editor: Right. Looking at this medal has led me to thinking of these couples as people, trying to make the most out of marriages, maybe under enormous pressures. They seem more human when observed through this lens.