Verkiezing van Willem Karel Hendrik Friso tot stadhouder Willem IV 1747 1747

Nicolaas van Swinderen created this silver medal to commemorate the election of Willem Karel Hendrik Friso as Stadtholder Willem IV in 1747. It reflects the political and social dynamics of the Dutch Republic during a period of transition. On one side, we see a profile portrait of Willem IV, emphasizing his status and authority. The reverse features a lion with a sword, symbolizing strength and justice, alongside inscriptions that invoke divine blessings and references to Gideon from the Bible, suggesting a sense of divinely sanctioned leadership. Made during a time of political instability and calls for stronger leadership, this medal highlights the perceived need for a powerful Stadtholder to unite and protect the Republic. The imagery and inscriptions serve as visual and textual propaganda, reinforcing Willem IV's legitimacy and promising a return to stability. Understanding this medal requires a grasp of Dutch political history and the role of the Stadtholderate, which can be gained by examining pamphlets, political treatises, and archival documents from the period. The medal reminds us that art objects are products of, and participants in, complex political and social contexts.