Overlijden van Filips van Croy, heer van Aarschot 1595

This silver medal, commemorating the death of Filips van Croy, heer van Aarschot, was created by Jacques Jonghelinck, around the late 16th century. The medal is an example of a type of portraiture that was fashionable among the elite in the Netherlands. The image creates meaning through visual codes relating to the history of the region. The Dutch revolt against Spanish rule had a major impact on all aspects of life. The visual arts began to reflect a sense of national identity. The coat of arms, inscriptions, and beehive imagery symbolize the aristocratic family’s authority and status. Art historians consult a range of sources to understand the context in which artworks were made. These might include archival documents, social histories, and studies of iconography and symbolism. This medal's meaning is contingent on the social and institutional contexts of the Netherlands.