L.J. Dermout dertig jaar secretaris van de Algemene Synode der Nederduitse Hervormde Kerk 1845 1845

Curator: This commemorative medal, dating back to 1845, honors L.J. Dermout’s thirty years as secretary of the General Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church. The piece, attributed to Johannes Petrus Schouberg, is crafted in bronze. Editor: It strikes me as surprisingly modern in its simplicity. There’s a stillness, a solemnity, that radiates from the portrait, even in this small, circular form. Curator: Indeed. The profile is very precisely rendered. On the obverse, the inscription that encircles his likeness translates, more or less, to “in honor of” his long service. Medals like these served as public affirmations, tangible tokens of esteem within societal structures. Editor: The lettering on the reverse feels like a deliberate echo of classical inscriptions, reinforcing the sense of tradition and the enduring importance of the Church. How fascinating to see the use of bronze, a material associated with permanence, employed for this commemoration. It gives the piece a sense of weight beyond its physical dimensions. Curator: The symbolism of circular forms is not lost either. Representing wholeness and continuity. Also note that portraiture, especially in relief, was historically used to convey authority and status, rooting individuals in the broader historical narrative. What kind of emotions do you think such a medal could trigger at the time, in particular circles? Editor: Likely a mix of pride and belonging within the Dutch Reformed community. The medal creates and reaffirms an inner group and a sense of cultural identity, doesn’t it? This was probably not just an image, but a social act. A carefully constructed narrative presented through a physical object. Curator: Absolutely, a social act solidified in metal. Thinking about what resonates, for me, it’s how this single medal embodies a specific time and place in Dutch history. Editor: And for me, it underscores how societies memorialize figures—the enduring power of a simple, precisely rendered image.