Overlijden van Johan Hendrik Vorstius

About this artwork

Gift of J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff

Art Historical Context

**Overlijden van Johan Vorstius** (Death of Johan Hendrik Vorius) is a finely crafted struck medal by Dutch artist Johannes Michiel Lan, dated 1783. At a modest diameter of 395 cm and weighing 19.2 grams, this intimate metalwork exemplifies the precision of late 18th-century European numismatics, where small-scale objects served as powerful commemorative tokens. The striking technique—hammering a detailed die into softened metal—allowed Lageman to achieve sharp reliefs and intricate designs, capturing the solemnity of Vorstius's passing. Common in the Dutch Republic during this era of politic...