Andreas Peter Bernstorff (1735–1797), Danish Foreign Minister (1784–97)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite silver medal, crafted in 1793 by Danish artist Daniel Jensen Adzer, honors Andreas Peter Bernstorff (1735–1797), Denmark's esteemed Foreign Minister from 1784 to 1797. Measuring just 56.7 mm in diameter, it exemplifies the intimate scale of 18th-century plaquettes—small, coin-like reliefs prized for their portability and prestige. The profile portrait captures Bernstorff in a classical pose, evoking the neoclassical ideals of the Enlightenment era, where such medals served as personal tokens of admiration for statesmen and leaders. Bernstorff was a pivotal figure in Danish dipl...