Beleg van Gibraltar en het tot zinken brengen van het schip Royal George van admiraal Richard Kempenfelt 1783

Curator: Looking at this artwork, I am reminded how objects, even small ones, can carry monumental stories. What do you see? Editor: The first thing that jumps out at me is a sense of dramatic irony—almost Shakespearean. The scenes look rather celebratory, considering the second depicts, well, disaster. Curator: Indeed. This engraved medal commemorates two events: "The Siege of Gibraltar and the Sinking of the Royal George Ship of Admiral Richard Kempenfelt." It dates back to 1783 and is rendered on metal. The identity of the artist has unfortunately been lost to time. Editor: It’s got a sort of coin-like quality. In the right image, it is slightly disheartening with its murky color; if I didn't know anything, the color of the metal reads a sense of melancholy over the wreckage. There are lives being lost in what I gather! It must have been harrowing. Curator: Precisely. The symbolic weight here is fascinating. On one side we have the prolonged defense of Gibraltar—a testament to British resilience and naval power against Spanish and French forces. This strength, however, is painfully juxtaposed against the sinking of the Royal George—an event triggered by a seemingly minor repair, leading to massive loss of life. Editor: It really gives you pause, doesn't it? It seems so confident, as if bragging, “Gibraltar,” then…bang, utter chaos, a symbol of humanity's fragility, like pride before the fall. Is there a significance to displaying two different events on a single object? Curator: Definitely! Beyond commemoration, the juxtaposition might offer a subtle commentary on the vicissitudes of fortune—a reminder that even in triumph, disaster may be lurking just around the corner. Think of "memento mori" in art, how victory can be quickly humbled. This duality also highlights the inherent risks associated with naval power, especially given the period's dependence on sailing vessels, vulnerable to both enemy action and environmental catastrophe. Editor: Well, looking at these, now that I know all of that, I find it pretty chilling, but effective. They might even tell a single story; that power is always brittle. Curator: I agree entirely. This medal, therefore, transcends simple documentation; it’s a potent visual allegory about the complexities of power and the human condition. Editor: For me, the images work, on a more instinctual level, like poetry: immediate, symbolic, with something of life’s beautiful cruelty, right there for one to meditate on.