Bediening van het sacrament van het H. Vormsel te Huissen door bisschop Cesar Brancadoro

About this artwork

Zilveren penning. Voorzijde: bisschop met mijter en staf zit onder troonhemel naast een tafel en legt zijn linkerhand op hoofd van een voor hem knielende persoon binnen omschrift. Keerzijde: opschrift onder gekroonde adelaar met zwaard en scepter in klauwen

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silver medal, crafted by Dutch artist Johannes Michiel Lan in 1780, commemorates a solemn religious moment: the administration of the sacrament of Holy Confirmation in Huissen by Bishop Cesar Bradoro. Measuring just 2.8 cm in diameter and weighing 6.28 grams, its petite scale belies the intricate detail achieved through striking—a metalworking technique where a die is struck under pressure to imprint fine designs on silver. The obverse features the bishop, mitred and staff in hand, seated beneath a throne canopy beside a table, gently placing his left hand on the head of a kneeling recipient, all framed by an inscription. The reverse bears another inscription beneath a crowned eagle clutching a sword and scepter, symbolizing ecclesiastical authority and imperial protection. Created during the late Enlightenment era in the Netherlands, when Catholic rituals persisted amid growing secular influences, this medal captures a pivotal local event in Huissen, a town in Gelderland. Bishop Brancadoro, who served as Bishop of Nijmegen from 1777 to 1796, underscores the piece's ties to the Dutch Catholic community under Habsburg rule. Such medals were prized devotional keepsakes, blending artistry with piety. Lageman's mastery shines in the medal's crisp engraving, evoking the Rococo style's elegant detail in miniature form. It invites visitors to ponder how tiny objects preserved grand faith traditions, offering a tangible link to 18th-century spirituality.