Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten te Brussel, ter ere van Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden 1817

This bronze medal was made by Joseph-Pierre Braemt to honor William I Frederick, King of the Netherlands, and the Royal Academy of Art in Brussels. The medal presents a portrait of King William alongside the Latin inscription "WILLELMUS I REX BELGARUM". On the reverse, the inscription "ACADEMIE ROYALE DE BRUXELLES" appears within a laurel wreath. The visual codes reference classical antiquity, a common practice for bestowing honor and prestige upon institutions and individuals. Braemt's medal reflects the cultural and political climate of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, an attempt to unify the Northern and Southern Netherlands between 1815 and 1830. As a symbol of royal patronage, the medal highlights the power of the monarchy and its influence on artistic institutions. Its existence raises questions about the role of art academies in legitimizing political power. As historians, our interpretation of this medal relies on understanding the socio-political context in which it was produced, including researching the historical relationship between the monarchy and the Royal Academy of Art in Brussels.