Bezoek van Leopold I en Louisa Maria, koning en koningin der Belgen aan Parijs

About this artwork

diameter 4,2 cm x gewicht 38,18 gr

Art Historical Context

This exquisite struck medallion, titled *Bezoek van Leopold I en Louisa Maria, koning en koningin Belgen aan Parijs* (Visit of Leopold I Louisa Maria, King and Queen of the Belgians Paris), was crafted by M. Borrel in 1833. Measuring just 4.2 cm in diameter and weighing 38.18 grams, it captures a pivotal diplomatic moment shortly after Belgium's independence from the Netherlands in 1830. I, the nation's first king, and his queen consort, Louise of Orléans (often referred to as Louisa Maria visited Paris to solidify alliances with France, reflecting the young kingdom's efforts to secure its place in Europe's shifting political landscape. As a product of 19th-century metalworking, the medallion exemplifies the struck technique—where a die presses intricate designs into metal under high pressure—producing sharp, detailed portraits and inscriptions ideal for commemorative art. Such small-scale works were popular for distribution among elites, serving as portable symbols of royal prestige and national pride. Borrel's piece highlights the era's neoclassical influences in medal design, blending portraiture with symbolic iconography to celebrate Franco-Belgian ties. A charming artifact from Europe's "Bourgeois Monarchies," it invites visitors to ponder how tiny objects like this preserved grand historical narratives.