Penning voor de burgerwacht bij het bezoek van Willem IV aan Amsterdam 1747 1747

This silver medal was made in 1747 by Johann Conrad Marmé to commemorate the visit of Willem IV to Amsterdam. The medal speaks to the complex social and political landscape of the Dutch Republic during the mid-18th century. The imagery on the medal would have had particular resonance at the time. The Dutch Republic, though prosperous, was marked by deep divisions between the supporters of the Stadtholder, like Willem IV, and those who favored a more republican form of government. In the mid 18th century, the House of Orange saw their powers increase; in 1747 William IV became Stadtholder of all seven provinces. This medal was distributed to members of the civic guard. By studying period documents, pamphlets, and the writings of contemporary political thinkers we can gain a fuller understanding of the symbolic weight carried by such objects. Through this we begin to appreciate how art is embedded in and shaped by the social forces of its time.