Overlijden van Lodewijk Filips Leopold Victor Ernest, kroonprins der Belgen, begraven in de kerk Sainte Gudule te Brussel 1834

This medal, created by Laurent Joseph Hart, commemorates the death and burial of Crown Prince Leopold. Notice the profile of the young prince on one side, an image reminiscent of ancient Roman coins, invoking a sense of classical virtue and enduring legacy. In memoriam, this emblem hearkens back to the memento mori tradition—a reminder of mortality. This motif transcends time, appearing in various forms from skull imagery in Dutch Golden Age painting to the elaborate funerary monuments of the Renaissance. This iconography elicits contemplation on the ephemeral nature of life and the inevitability of death, stirring profound emotional responses. Consider how the face of the young prince, immortalized on this medal, transcends his earthly existence. This process of remembrance taps into our collective memory, echoing through the ages and reminding us of the cyclical nature of life and death.