Overwinning bij Aghrim, behaald tijdens de afwezigheid van Willem III

About this artwork

diameter 4,7 cm x gewicht 538 gr

Art Historical Context

### Victory at Aughrim Medal Crafted in 1691 by Dutchist Franciscus de Winter this striking medal—measuring 4.7 cm in diameter weighing a substantial 538 grams—commemorates the pivotal "Overwinning bij Aghrim"Victory at Aughrim Produced through the precise metalworking technique of striking where a die is hammered into a metal blank to create raised designs, it exemplifies 17th-century numismatic art. Such medals were prized as portable symbols of triumph, blending fine craftsmanship with propaganda. The Battle of Aughrim, fought on July 12, 1691, in Ireland, was a decisive clash in the Williamite War, part of the broader Nine Years' War against Louis XIV of France. Protestant forces under General Godert de Ginkel secured a resounding victory over the Jacobite army, despite the absence of their sovereign, William III (William of Orange). This medal celebrates that unexpected success, underscoring William's enduring influence and the shifting tides of European power struggles. As a historical artifact, it highlights the era's medal-making tradition, where artists like de Winter captured fleeting glories in enduring bronze or silver. Visitors can appreciate how such small-scale works carried immense cultural weight, serving as talismans of loyalty and national pride in the Dutch Golden Age.