Concordaat tussen paus Leo XII en Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden 1827

Curator: Ah, this is an interesting find! It’s a relief sculpture by Julien Gabriel Leclercq, made in 1827, called “Concordaat tussen paus Leo XII en Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden”—which roughly translates to "Concordat between Pope Leo XII and William I Frederick, King of the Netherlands.” Editor: Immediately I get this somber feeling, almost…official? Cold, perhaps? It's a very classical composition, the profile feels familiar, like an ancient Roman coin or something. Curator: Precisely! It embodies a neoclassical style, recalling the art of antiquity. See the crisp lines and the restrained emotion in Leo XII's profile? Leclercq aimed for an idealized representation. There is a story inscribed too—that Latin text is related to the signing of a historical treaty between the Pope and King William. The two agreed on greater religious freedom for the Kingdom. Editor: The inscription! A semiotic playground! This coin tells of two heads of State but focuses on Pope Leo XII, and the historical impact this man had on the Catholic Church during the 19th century. I am curious to see whether his leadership also improved living standards in Rome! Curator: Very good points. The decision to depict only Leo speaks volumes—likely about the commissioner and the intended audience of this piece. It probably hung somewhere to celebrate Papal infallibility. Perhaps this historical event mattered more to the commissioners of the day than it does to us now. Editor: Right. Though one wonders about William. To be absent from one side and merely invoked on the other, there is a curious imbalance and a signifier, of a very personal desire, perhaps, from the commissioners! Curator: Indeed. It offers an interesting lens through which we may interpret political history. Any last thoughts? Editor: I'm just struck by the way Leclercq uses metal to elevate, both literally and figuratively, this particular moment in history. He makes it seem grand and lasting! Curator: Absolutely! And by capturing it on this sort of coin, he memorializes not just the event, but the ideals they wanted to project. A tangible piece of propaganda? It does make you wonder about the real-world implications of their handshake, the shadows of religious freedoms in everyday life. Food for thought, certainly.