Vrede van Dresden

About this artwork

diameter 4,4 cm x gewicht 31,79 gr

Art Historical Context

**Vrede van Dresden (Peace of Dresden)** *Andreas Vestner, 1745* *Struck metal, diameter 4.4 cm, 31.79 g* this exquisite struck medalet by Andreas Vestner, a masterful artisan of 18th-century metalworking. Crafted in 1745, "Vrede van Dresden"ates the pivotal Peace of Dresden, a treaty that temporarily halted hostilities in the War of the Austrian Succession. Signed on Christmas Eve that year between Prussia's Frederick the Great and Austria's Maria Theresa, it affirmed Prussian gains in Silesia, reshaping European power dynamics amid Enlightenment-era diplomacy. Vestner's technique of striking—hammering a metal blank between engraved dies—exemplifies the precision of baroque medal art. At just 4.4 cm in diameter and weighing 31.79 grams, this intimate piece was likely produced for collectors or as a diplomatic token, blending fine craftsmanship with propaganda. Medals like this served as portable history lessons, celebrating peace while showcasing the era's advances in minting technology. Though small, its survival offers a tangible glimpse into 1745's turbulent geopolitics, inviting us to ponder how art immortalizes fragile truces. A gem for numismatists and history enthusiasts alike! (178 words)