Antoine Perrenot, kardinaal van Granvelle, bisschop van Atrecht 1560

This silver medal, created by Jacques Jonghelinck around 1565, portrays Antoine Perrenot, Cardinal Granvelle, a key figure in the Habsburg Netherlands. The medal is more than a portrait; it’s a carefully constructed image of power and authority. The obverse depicts Granvelle in profile, holding a cross, symbols of his ecclesiastical status. The reverse shows a hunting scene, which alludes to Granvelle’s worldly power. Made in a period of intense religious and political upheaval, the medal speaks to the complex social conditions of its time. Granvelle was deeply involved in the suppression of Protestantism in the Netherlands, a policy that fueled resentment and ultimately led to the Dutch Revolt. A look into the archives from this period reveals that the medal can be seen as a form of propaganda, intended to project an image of strength and control at a time when the Habsburg regime was facing increasing resistance. Unraveling the layers of meaning in this medal requires us to examine not only its visual elements but also the social and institutional contexts in which it was created and circulated.