De hertog van Alva ontvangt van Pius V als dank een gewijde hoed en degen, penning op de feestelijkheden bij die gelegenheid en als waarschuwing voor komend onheil 1569

Editor: This is a medal from 1569, commemorating the Duke of Alva receiving a blessed hat and sword from Pope Pius V. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The imagery feels very… stark, almost foreboding. Given the Duke of Alva's role in the Eighty Years’ War, what stories do you see embedded in this piece? Curator: The medal’s starkness underscores a period of intense religious and political conflict. It’s not merely celebratory, but a complex artifact steeped in power dynamics. The gift-giving symbolizes papal approval of Alva's brutal suppression of Protestantism in the Netherlands, revealing how religious authority was weaponized. What do you make of the inscriptions surrounding the images? Editor: They seem pretty declarative… Almost propagandistic? Curator: Precisely! Consider how medals like these functioned as tools for shaping public perception. They circulated images and narratives favorable to those in power, while demonizing their opposition. This isn't just about a historical event; it's about crafting a particular memory of that event, one that legitimized violence and persecution. Where does that place the "common person" within the artwork? Editor: It is difficult to ignore, as an observer, how easy it would have been for this kind of narrative to dehumanize those targeted at the time. Curator: It becomes even more powerful, if you understand how these visuals may have been displayed in conjunction with more public declarations of power. Editor: I'll never see this kind of object the same way. The minting process, distribution, and ultimate goal feels far more sinister after our conversation. Curator: Understanding the medal's context reframes it. It moves beyond a simple historical marker to a chilling example of ideological manipulation through art. It is both fascinating and troubling.