Lodewijk XIV trekt over de Rijn en verovert de Betuwe 1672

This small medal, commemorating Louis XIV’s crossing of the Rhine, is made of cast and struck gold alloy. A relatively precious material, gold was often employed in objects intended to convey power and authority, and to reward services rendered. Consider the medal's two sides: one displays a profile portrait of the French King, meticulously sculpted and cast. This was achieved by a highly skilled medalist, demonstrating the artistry of die-making. The other side depicts the crossing of the Rhine itself, with allegorical imagery. A lot of labor was required to generate these designs in metal. The medal's materiality, with its connotations of wealth and power, combined with the skilled labor involved in its creation, imbue the object with historical and cultural significance. This was not merely a piece of currency, but a symbolic artifact, intended to shape public perception of Louis XIV’s reign. By looking closely at such an object, we can start to understand how craft and fine art, labor and politics, were deeply intertwined.