Overlijden van Pieter Cornelis, baron van Leyden, heer van Vlaardingen en Vlaardingerambacht 1788

This silver medal commemorating the death of Pieter Cornelis, baron van Leyden, was created by Johan George Holtzhey. Likely crafted around the late 18th century in the Netherlands, it reflects the intricate social hierarchies of the Dutch Republic. The prominent heraldic imagery, with its elaborate coat of arms supported by mythical creatures, speaks volumes about the importance of lineage and social status. Such medals were not merely personal mementos, but public declarations of power and prestige within a society still grappling with its identity after the Dutch Revolt. The Latin inscription, ripe for interpretation, perhaps encapsulates the baron's personal motto or a broader societal aspiration. To fully understand this piece, we'd need to delve into genealogical records, period literature, and perhaps even the archives of institutions connected to the Van Leyden family. This medal serves as a potent reminder that art, even in miniature, is deeply embedded in the social and institutional contexts of its time.