Viering van de kroning van Willem III en Maria te Rotterdam

About this artwork

Zilveren penning met gat. Voorzijde: gekroond wapenschild opgehouden door twee leeuwen boven wimpel met opschrift, op achtergrond palmboom en stad aan haven. Keerzijde: groep mensen bij standbeeld van Erasmus voor opgerichte triomfboog met daarop opschrift en gekroond borstbeeld van Willem III.

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silver medal, struck by the prolific Dutch Baroque artist Romeyn de Hooghe in 1689, commemorates the grand celebrations surrounding the coronation of William III Mary in Rotterdam. Measuring just 3.3 cm in diameter and weighing 12.01 grams, the piece features a convenient hole for wearing as a pendant, blending fine metalworking with wearable art. De Hooghe, renowned for dynamic engravings and allegorical designs, masterfully captured the era's exuberant patriotism through intricate chasing and relief techniques typical of 17th-century Dutch medal craftsmanship. The obverse showcases a crowned coat of arms upheld by two fierce lions, symbolizing strength and nobility, set against a palm tree and a bustling harbor cityscape—evoking Rotterdam's thriving maritime spirit. The reverse depicts a lively crowd gathered at the statue of humanist scholar Erasmus, Rotterdam's native son, before a triumphal arch adorned with inscriptions and a crowned bust of William III. These motifs blend local pride with royal glorification, highlighting the city's role in the pomp of the occasion. Historically, this medal reflects the Glorious Revolution's ripple effects, as William III ascended as joint monarch with Mary II, bolstering Protestant alliances across Europe. As a tangible artifact of civic joy, it underscores the Baroque era's love for symbolic spectacle, inviting us to envision Rotterdam's streets alive with revelry in 1689.

About the Artist

Romeyn de Hooghe · 1645–1708

Romeyn de Hooghe (1645-1708) was a Dutch Baroque engraver, draughtsman, and political satirist who became the most prolific and versatile graphic artist of the Dutch Republic in the late seventeenth century. Born in Amsterdam, he rose to become one of early modern Europe's most important printmakers and a pioneering master of political satire. De Hooghe's significance extends far beyond his techn...