Vijfentwintigjarig huwelijk prins Frederik en Louisa van Pruisen 1850 1850

This bronze medal, crafted in 1850 by David van der Kellen, commemorates the silver wedding anniversary of Prince Frederik and Louisa of Prussia. The conjoined profiles on one side evoke classical Roman portraiture, symbolizing continuity and imperial power. Turn the medal over. A prominent triangle dominates the reverse, inscribed with Latin text celebrating twenty-five years of marriage. The triangle, an ancient symbol, reappears across cultures – from Egyptian pyramids to Christian trinities. Here, it echoes the Enlightenment ideals of reason and order, prevalent in 19th-century Europe. Garlands of laurel leaves encircle the triangle, signifying victory and eternal life, motifs seen in ancient Greek and Roman art. These symbols are not static. They evolve, accumulate layers of meaning, and trigger subconscious associations. The enduring image of the triangle is a potent reminder of how symbols resurface across time, carrying emotional and cultural weight, endlessly reinterpreted by the collective psyche.