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During the seventeenth century in the Netherlands, the period known as the Dutch Golden Age, medals were as much an obsession as tulips. Cast and struck medals bore portraits of the famous and the ordinary, referencing their exploits or identities, celebrating key historical events, and recording births, betrothals, marriages, and deaths. Many were made with the Dutch silversmith’s process of soldering together two cast shells, and often bore a frontal portrait rather than the more traditional profile.

  • Silver portrait medal of George van Egmond, Bishop of Utrecht holding his gloves and wearing a ring, a Canterbury cap, a small ruff under a buttoned jerkin, and a cloak with hanging sleeves, trimmed with ermine

    Steven van Herwijck (ca. 1530–1565/67)
    George van Egmond, Bishop of Utrecht (1504–1559), dated 1558
    Silver, cast
    Diam.: 5 11/16 in. (14.45 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 72

  • Silver portrait medal of Elizabeth, Marchioness of Northampton wearing a French hood, a brocade gown with puffed sleeves and ruffed collar, and a necklace

    Steven van Herwijck (ca. 1530–1565/67)
    Elizabeth Brook, Marchioness of Northampton (1526–1565), dated 1562
    Silver, cast
    Diam.: 1 5/8 in. (4.06 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 73

  • Bronze portrait medal of Lucas Munich wearing a cope richly decorated with orphreys

    Jacques Jonghelinck (1530–1606)
    Lucas Munich (1490/91–1563), dated 1559
    Copper alloy, cast
    Diam.: 2 11/16 in. (6.81 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 74

  • bust of bearded man in armor

    Jacques Jonghelinck (1530–1606)
    Bust of Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Third Duke of Alba (1507–1582), 1571
    Bronze
    46 × 26 3/4 × 15 in. (116.8 × 67.9 × 38.1 cm)
    The Frick Collection; Henry Clay Frick Bequest

    Cat. 75

  • Jacques Jonghelinck (1530–1606)
    Don Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, Third Duke of Alba (1507–1582), dated 1571
    Silver, cast
    Diam.: 1 9/16 in. (4 cm)
    The Frick Collection; Gift of Stephen K. and Janie Woo Scher, 1994

    Cat. 76

  • Silver medal depicting a woman with hair elaborately pinned up beneath a diadem, wearing pearl teardrop earrings, a necklace ending in a pearl pendant that hangs between her bare breasts, a cape, and a gown, pinned with a sunburst brooch

    Cup inset with Jan de Vos (ca. 1578–after 1619)
    Allegory of Vanitas, dated 1614
    Silver, with gilding
    Cup: 5 1/16 × 3 15/16 × 4 in. (12.8 × 10 × 10.2 cm)
    Medal only: 2 1/4 × 1 3/4 in. (5.7 × 4.4 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 77

  • Silver gilt medal of Hercules and Minerva standing on either side of a pile of weapons and armor; between them, two branches, oak and olive, are tied together. In her right hand, Minerva holds seven arrows representing the seven provinces of the Netherlands. Above, heavenly rays emanate from the name of Jehovah in Hebrew. Two cherubs support a banderole. In the center of the field, two other cherubs hold a smaller banderole

    Jan (Johannes) Lutma the Elder (ca. 1584–1669)
    The Peace of Münster, dated 1648
    Gilt silver, two cast shells soldered together
    Diam.: 2 13/16 in. (7.18 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 78

  • Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669)
    Jan (Johannes) Lutma the Elder (ca. 1584–1669), 1656
    State III of IV
    Etching and drypoint
    7 3/4 x 5 7/8 in. (19.7 x 14.9 cm)
    The Frick Collection; Henry Clay Frick Bequest

    Cat. 79

  • Silver portrait medal of Admiral Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp wearing a plain collar, metal gorget, buttoned doublet, and badge of the Order of St. Michael on a ribbon, flanked by two palm branches, banners, clouds, and cannons. Above, two putti hold a crown over his head formed by the prows of ships

    Wouter Muller (1604–1673)
    Admiral Maarten Harpertszoon Tromp (1597–1653), dated 1653
    Silver, two cast shells soldered together
    Diam.: 2 3/4 in. (7.06 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 80

  • Silver medal depicting two flying genii, one clothed and one nude, sounding horns, each holding a ribbon ending in a tassel and a banner; below, a corpse wrapped in a shroud and resting, head supported by a bolster, on a tomb; beneath, a cartouche flanked by two contorted skeletons

    Wouter Muller? (1604–1673)
    Memento Mori for Cornelius Nuck (1637–1717), dated 1717
    Silver, cast
    2 7/8 × 2 5/8 in. (7.38 × 6.72 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 81

  • Silver medal depicting, in the foreground, a rooster with hen and chicks beside a scythe and agricultural tools (including a spade and plow), behind which appears Cupid with arrows, which represent the seven provinces of the Netherlands and a lion of Holland looking at a couple (seated on a cart) who, hands clasped, face one another while stepping on a skull; in the middle ground, a man works the field before a chapel, outside which a mother and two children, as well as a figure with a cross and Bible, sit;

    After Wouter Muller (1604–1673), probably by Cornelis Coutrier (before 1730–1749)
    Silver Wedding of Johannis de Waal and Gerbreghie Valkes (dates unknown), dated 1718
    Silver, two cast shells soldered together
    Diam.: 2 11/16 in. (6.9 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 82

  • Silver medal depicting two flying genii, nude, pointing toward the clouds from which rays of sunlight stream. They support a banner; below, a woman crowned with laurels and wrapped in a shroud, her eyes closed and head supported by a roll of cloth, reclines upon a sarcophagus, fronted by a cartouche flanked by genii

    After Wouter Muller (1604–1673)
    Deaths of Maria Henrica (1731–1734) and Johannes Petrus van Brienen (1734–1734), dated 1734
    Silver, cast
    2 7/8 × 2 5/8 in. (7.33 × 6.64 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 83

  • Silver portrait medal of Charles II, King of England with long hair and thin mustache, wearing armor, a large neck cloth with bow, and the Order of the Garter

    Pieter van Abeele (1608–1684)
    Charles II, King of England (b. 1630; r. 1660–85), dated 1660
    Silver, cast
    Diam.: 2 11/16 in. (6.85 cm)
    The Frick Collection; Gift of Stephen K. and Janie Woo Scher, 2016

    Cat. 84

  • Silver medal depicting a seated couple bathed in sunlight, wearing fanciful classical dress and joined together by a chain from which hangs a heart, trample three serpents underfoot; in the background, a grapevine trained on two posts, and a flowering plant

    Attributed to Pieter van Abeele (1608–1684)
    Marriage and Prosperity, ca. 1655
    Silver, two cast shells soldered together
    Diam.: 3 in. (7.65 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 85

  • Silver portrait medal of King Charles X Gustavus Vasa of Sweden standing in the foreground with a city in the background

    Attributed to Pieter van Abeele (1608–1684)
    Charles X Gustav Vasa, King of Sweden (b. 1622; r. 1654–60), dated 1660
    Silver, cast
    2 9/16 × 2 1/8 in. (6.54 × 5.47 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 86

  • Silver portrait medal of Gertrude van Hooftman wearing a brocade gown with large flat collar, a double strand of pearls, pearl-drop earrings, and a tight cap

    After Pieter van Abeele (1608–1684)
    Gertrude van Hooftman (1609–1658), dated 1658
    Silver, two cast shells soldered together
    Diam.: 2 13/16 in. (7.2 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 87

  • Silver medal depicting Mercury, god of Commerce, flying above the new Town Hall holding the caduceus and a hat signifying Liberty. The Nieuwe Kerk to the right, Amphion seated in the foreground, and the arms of Amsterdam. In the middle ground, a crowd of onlookers.

    Juriaen Pool I (1618–1669)
    Inauguration of the New Town Hall, Amsterdam, dated 1655
    Silver, struck
    Diam.: 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm)
    Scher Collection

    Cat. 88

  • Silver medal depicting, in the foreground, lion standing upon implements of war, two cannons, a helmet, a shield, and an arquebus. In the background, warships are scattered over the sea

    Jan (Johannes) Lutma the Younger (1624–1685)
    The Peace of Breda, dated 1667
    Silver, struck
    Diam.: 2 3/4 in. (7.06 cm)
    Scher Collection; Promised gift to The Frick Collection

    Cat. 89

  • Silver jugate portrait medal of the brothers Johann and Cornelius de Witt

    Unknown artist
    Cornelius de Witt (1623–1672) and Johann de Witt (1625–1672), dated 1672
    Silver, cast
    Diam.: 2 in. (5.09 cm)
    The Frick Collection; Gift of Stephen K. and Janie Woo Scher, 2016

    Cat. 90

  • Silver portrait medal of King William III and Queen Mary seated and crowned, each wearing their coronation robes and holding a scepter and orb

    Unknown artist
    William III of Orange (b. 1650; Stadholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands 1672–1702; King of England, Scotland, and Ireland 1689–1702) and Mary II, Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland (b. 1662; r. 1689–94), dated 1689
    Silver, two cast shells soldered together
    Diam.: 2 7/16 in. (6.27 cm)
    Scher Collection; Promised gift to The Frick Collection

    Cat. 91

  • Silver portrait medal of Cornelia Bierens wearing ermine-lined coat and flowered cap

    Johann George Holtzhey (1729–1808)
    Cornelia Bierens (1690–1792), dated 1790
    Silver, struck
    Diam.: 1 3/4 in. (4.47 cm)
    The Frick Collection; Gift of Stephen K. and Janie Woo Scher, 2016

    Cat. 92

  • Silver medal inscribed DER DOOD VON LUDWIG XVI KONIG VON FRANKREICH [The death of Louis XVI, King of France]

    Unknown artist
    Beheading of Louis XVI, King of France (1754–1793; r. 1774–92), dated 1793
    Lead-tin alloy, cast
    Diam.: 1 3/4 in. (4.49 cm)
    The Frick Collection; Gift of Stephen K. and Janie Woo Scher, 2016

    Cat. 93

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