Honderdjarig bestaan van de kweekschool der Doopsgezinden te Amsterdam en driehonderjarige herdenking van het uittreden van Menno Symonsz.

About this artwork

Zilveren penning. Voorzijde: beschenen door hemellicht staat gesluierde vrouw met open boek in hand,voorstellende Godsdienst tussen catheder, waarvoor drie boeken liggen en doopvont,waartegen voor helft ontrold geschrift ligt binnen omschrift; afsnede: signatuur. Keerzijde: opschrift binnen krans van myrteloof

Art Historical Context

Crafted in 1835 by Dutch engraver David van derellen (1804–1879), this exquisite silver medal—measuring just 4.5 cm in diameter and weighing 34.31 grams—commemorates two pivotal Mennonite milestones: the 100th anniversary of the DoopsgezindenMennonite) seminary in Amsterdam and the 300th anniversary of Menno Symonsz's historic departure from the Catholic Church. Van der Kellen, a master of 19th-century medal engraving, employed the precise technique of striking, where hammered dies imprint intricate designs onto silver blanks, ensuring durability and fine detail for lasting remembrance. The obverse features a veiled female figure symbolizing Religion, bathed in heavenly light, holding an open book. She stands between a lectern bearing three books and a baptismal font, with a partially unrolled document leaning against it—all enclosed by an inscription and signed by the artist. The reverse bears the event's title within a wreath of myrtle leaves, evoking peace and victory in Christian iconography. This medal reflects the Mennonites' rich Anabaptist heritage, emphasizing faith, education, and baptismal renewal amid 19th-century religious commemorations. As a portable artifact, it served as both a personal token and communal emblem, blending neoclassical symbolism with Dutch precision in metalwork.