Genootschap voor landbouw en kruidkunde te Utrecht, penning uitgereikt aan F.H.J. van der Hoop

About this artwork

Schenking van mevrouw J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff

Art Historical Context

This exquisite struck medal, crafted by Dutch engraver David van der Kellen1804-1879) in 1843, commemorates an award from the Genootschap voor Landbouw en Kruidkunde Utrecht—the Society for Agriculture Botany in Utrecht. Titled *Genootschap voorbouw en kruidkunde Utrecht, penning uitikt aan F.H.J. van der Hoop*, honors F.H.J. der Hoop, likely prominent figure in 19th-century Dutch agricultural or botanical circles. Measuring just 4.8 cm in diameter and weighing 34.88 grams, its intimate scale belies its prestige as a tangible symbol of scientific achievement during the Netherlands' era of agricultural innovation and societal progress. Van der Kellen, a master of medal engraving, employed the striking technique—hammering a die into softened metal to create intricate raised designs—resulting in sharp details that capture emblems of farming, flora, and fellowship. Such medals were prized artifacts of the Romantic era, blending neoclassical precision with Enlightenment ideals of knowledge-sharing societies. This piece reflects Utrecht's vibrant intellectual scene, where guilds promoted practical sciences amid industrialization. Generously donated by Mrs. J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff, the medal invites us to ponder the unsung heroes of rural advancement, bridging art and history in a gleaming token of recognition.