Rheinfels en St. Goar ontzet door de Landgraaf van Hessen 1693

Curator: At first glance, it feels remarkably stark. The high-contrast imagery and compact format create an immediate sense of precision and symbolic weight. Editor: Indeed. We’re looking at a silver medal, created in 1693 by Jan (I) Smeltzing. It’s entitled "Rheinfels en St. Goar ontzet door de Landgraaf van Hessen" or "The Relief of Rheinfels and St. Goar by the Landgrave of Hesse." Medals such as these were frequently commissioned to commemorate military victories. Curator: Absolutely. The very materiality of silver speaks to permanence and value, embedding the historical narrative. The relief is sharply detailed, wouldn't you say? Note the iconography; a bursting cloud from which divine rays extend… glory temporarily achieved. A wilting plant signifies earthly accomplishment. Editor: Yes, very consciously presented as fleeting, then. The symbolism resonates, aligning earthly power with a sense of the ephemeral. Flipping to the reverse, one can observe the scene depicting the siege itself. The topography of the Rhine Valley forms a backdrop to the advance of the troops. Curator: Exactly. I notice a contrast: one side presenting symbols relating to power, and the other a pictorial scene illustrating it. Do you find the motto inscribed contributes to the imagery's emotional narrative? Editor: Most definitely. The motto NEC AUTO, NEC ARMIS - ‘neither by gold nor by arms,’ alludes to the fact that strategy, more than financial incentives or brute force, was crucial for this Landgrave. These tiny details amplify the narrative and add layers of complexity, turning an item of propaganda into a socio-historical record. Curator: So while such medals indeed present official narratives, you feel that, read closely, they permit deeper insights into their time? Editor: Precisely. Medals like these open dialogues between art, politics, and belief. Each element, consciously curated, becomes a fascinating reflection on the society that produced it. Curator: It seems such potent symbolism allowed audiences to decode multiple levels of meaning in a time of limited literacy. A miniature monument filled with import. Editor: Exactly. Medals were designed to encapsulate a victory or treaty and distill grand themes of their time in a manner easily transportable, both geographically and historically.