Coronation of Queen Victoria (1819–1901) 1838

This is Benedetto Pistrucci's ‘Coronation of Queen Victoria,’ a gold medal now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At first glance, the medal’s circular form, uniformly golden hue, and smooth texture evoke a sense of classical harmony and timelessness. Queen Victoria’s profile, meticulously rendered, occupies the central space, surrounded by inscribed text. The design echoes ancient Roman coinage, yet it operates within a specific cultural discourse. Pistrucci's careful articulation of Victoria's features, framed by the clean, geometric arc of the lettering, reflects a tension between individuality and authority. The use of gold, of course, is not incidental, and is a potent signifier of wealth, power, and legitimacy. The work challenges conventional notions of portraiture, prompting us to question how the formal elements of representation can shape perceptions of power and identity. Consider how the medal's design invites us to reflect on the interplay between aesthetic form and cultural meaning, revealing how power is not just held but meticulously crafted.