Overlijden van Louise, koningin van Pruisen

About this artwork

diameter 3.9 cm x weight 33.21 gr

Art Historical Context

This striking medal, created by German medallist Daniel Friedrich Loos in 1810, commemorates the death of Louise, Queen of Prussia. Measuring just 3.9 cm in diameter and weighing 33.21 grams, the piece exemplifies the intimate scale of early nineteenth-century commemorative medals. Produced through the technique of striking, in which a design is impressed into metal using engraved dies, it allowed for precise, reproducible imagery that could circulate widely as a portable memorial. Queen Louise, who passed away at age 34, was deeply admired across Prussia for her dignity and compassion during the Napoleonic Wars. Loos’s medal captures the public grief that followed her loss, transforming a personal royal tragedy into a shared cultural moment. Such works served both as historical records and expressions of national sentiment, blending portraiture with symbolic elements typical of neoclassical medal design. Today, this artifact offers visitors a tangible connection to the emotional and political climate of 1810 Europe. Its modest size belies its role in shaping public memory, illustrating how metalworking traditions helped preserve the legacy of one of Prussia’s most beloved figures.

About the Artist

Daniel Friedrich Loos · 1735–1819

Daniel Friedrich Loos (1735–1819) was a German medallist, engraver, and die-cutter who served as chief engraver and medalist for the Kingdom of Prussia during a crucial period of Prussian history. Born on June 15, 1735, in Altenburg and dying on October 1, 1819, in Berlin, Loos pursued an 84-year life that spanned from the reign of Frederick William I through the Napoleonic Wars and into the post-...