Jeronimo de Bosch, vijftig jaar inspecteur van het Collegium Medicum te Amsterdam 1764

This silver medal, commemorating Jeronimo de Bosch's fifty years as inspector of the Collegium Medicum in Amsterdam, was crafted by Barend Christiaan van Calker. It depicts Bosch in profile, a classical style evoking the Roman tradition of honoring figures through portraiture. Such profiles weren't just about likeness; they symbolized virtues and status. Even the laurel wreath, though absent here, often accompanied such images, harking back to Apollo and signifying triumph and intellect. We see echoes of this in Renaissance medals, where humanists revived classical forms to celebrate individual achievement. But consider how this differs from, say, ancient Egyptian profiles, which were more about eternal representation than individual character. Here, the psychological element comes into play: the desire to immortalize not just a face, but a legacy. It's a powerful impulse, engaging us on a subconscious level, reminding us of our own mortality and the drive to leave a mark. This medal is part of a cyclical journey, a constant return to classical ideals, reshaped by cultural memory and the ever-present human need for recognition.