Medaillon met portret van Willem Frederik van Oranje-Nassau 1782

This is a medallion featuring a portrait of Willem Frederik van Oranje-Nassau, created by Johann Heinrich Schepp. Though we don't have an exact date, Schepp was active in the latter half of the 18th century. This portrait presents an interesting case study in the politics of imagery, particularly relating to the European aristocracy. Notice the classical profile. While the subject is a child, the portrait shares visual codes with ancient Roman imperial portraiture. This was a common visual strategy to ennoble a ruler's image, linking them to a prestigious lineage. The Netherlands at this time was undergoing significant political upheaval, with the House of Orange playing a central role. This medallion should be understood in the context of those political struggles. To fully understand this work, further research is required; considering how portraiture was used to shore up political power in the 18th-century Dutch Republic. It reminds us that art is never made in a vacuum, but rather in a dense network of social and institutional relations.