Vijfentwintigjarig bestaan van de maatschappij Arti et Amicitiae te Amsterdam

About this artwork

Bronzen penning. Voorzijde: gebouw van de maatschappij binnen omschrift; afsnede: datering. Keerzijde: opschrift binnen omschrift.

Art Historical Context

**Vijfentwintigjarig bestaan van de maatschapp Arti et Amicitiae Amsterdam** (1864) by Johan Philip der Kellen is a crafted bronze medal celebrating the 25th anniversary of et Amicitiae, a prominent Amsterdam artists' society founded to foster artistic camaraderie and innovation. Struck in metalworking—a technique where a detailed die is hammered into softened bronze to create raised reliefs—this small yet weighty piece (5.8 cm diameter, 105.1 g) exemplifies 19th-century numismatic art, blending precision engraving with symbolic commemoration. The obverse features the society's building framed by an encircling inscription, with a precise date marking the milestone below. The reverse bears an inscribed legend within a bordering script, emphasizing the event's significance. Van der Kellen, a skilled Dutch engraver, masterfully captured architectural details and typography, highlighting the society's role as a hub for Amsterdam's creative community during a era of growing artistic nationalism. This medal not only marks a quarter-century of cultural vitality but also reflects the era's tradition of medallic art as accessible keepsakes for patrons and members, preserving institutional pride in enduring bronze. A delightful artifact for admirers of historical ephemera! (198 words)

About the Artist

Johan Philip van der Kellen · 1831–1906

Johan Philip van der Kellen (1831-1906) was a Dutch engraver and museum curator who made significant contributions to both the practice of medallic art and the institutional development of Dutch print collections. Born in Utrecht on July 9, 1831, and dying in Baarn in 1906, van der Kellen pursued a dual career as creative artist and cultural administrator that exemplified the nineteenth-century mo...