Oprichting van een monument voor Joan Melchior Kemper in de St. Pieterskerk te Leiden 1835

This is a bronze medal by Johan Philip Menger, commemorating the erection of a monument for Joan Melchior Kemper in Leiden's St. Pieterskerk. Kemper was a professor of law in the Netherlands at a time when legal theory was closely tied to political and social reform. As such, this medal becomes a symbolic representation of the values and ideals Kemper championed. We must consider the power structures and social norms that defined the period and were perhaps challenged by Kemper's work. On one side, the monument itself is depicted, and on the reverse, an inscription surrounded by a wreath. The wreath, an ancient symbol of honor, signifies not just respect but also hints at the weight of legacy and remembrance. This medal serves as a historical marker, reminding us to consider whose stories are told, how they are told, and what values society chooses to memorialize. It also highlights the intersection of personal legacy and collective memory.