Verbanning van Napoleon Bonaparte naar St. Helena

About this artwork

Schenking van mevrouw J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff

Art Historical Context

Behold the intricate medallion *Verbanning van Napoleon Bonaparte St. Helena* (Exile of Napoleon Bonaparte to St.), crafted by English metalworker Thomas Webb between1815 and 1821. This small yet poignant artwork captures a defining moment in European history: Napoleon's humiliating defeat at Waterloo in 1815 and his banishment to the remote island of St. Helena where he lived out his final years in isolation until his death in 1. Produced amid widespread celebration across Britain and its allies, the piece reflects the era's fervor for commemorating the end of the Napoleonic Wars and the restoration of monarchical order. Struck in metal—a technique involving hammering a detailed die into a blank to create raised relief designs—this 4.1 cm diameter medallion, weighing 36.33 grams, exemplifies 19th-century numismatic artistry. Webb's precise craftsmanship highlights key figures and scenes of exile, blending historical documentation with symbolic triumph. Such medals were prized as affordable, portable souvenirs, allowing ordinary citizens to own a slice of monumental history. Generously donated by Mrs. J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff, this rare survivor invites us to ponder Napoleon's fall from emperor to captive, a reminder of fortune's fickle turns. (198 words)