Vrede van Dresden 1745

Andreas Vestner created this silver medal, "Peace of Dresden," in the mid-18th century. It reflects a pivotal moment in European power politics. The medal commemorates the Treaty of Dresden in 1745, which concluded the Second Silesian War between Prussia, Austria and Saxony. These treaties are fascinating as they were the cultural product of diplomatic institutions. The visual codes of the medal create meaning through historical associations to the event, presenting the idea of peace in allegorical form. Made in Saxony, we might consider the political and economic structures that underpinned it. The medal celebrates the end of conflict but also subtly reinforces the legitimacy and authority of the ruling classes in Saxony at this time. To fully understand such a piece, historians consult diplomatic archives, treaties, and even personal correspondence. Only then can we fully understand the medal’s significance as a record of a specific historical moment.