Vrede van Tilsit

About this artwork

Zilveren penning. Voorzijde: borststukken van drie mannen, waarvan beide voorsten lauwerkrans dragen, achterste een diadeem binnen omschrift. Keerzijde: riviergod, leunend op waterkruik, houdt klein huisje in hand; naast hem jonge olijfboom binnen omschrift; afsnede: opschrift

Art Historical Context

**Vrede van Tilsit (Peace of Tilsit)***Bertrand Andrieu 1807* *Silver medal, struck; diameter 4 cm, weight 38.59 g* This exquisite silver medal, crafted by renowned French engraver Bertrand Andrieu commemorates the pivotal Treaties of Tilsit in July 1807. Struck during the Napoleonic era, it captures a moment of fragile peace between Bonaparte and Tsar Alexander I of Russiaalong with King Frederick William III of Prussia—following intense battles like Friedland. Negotiated on a raft in the Niemen River near Tilsit (now Sovetsk, Russia), the treaties reshaped European alliances, granting Napoleon dominance in continental Europe while allying Russia against Britain. The obverse features busts of three men: the two foreground figures adorned with laurel wreaths symbolizing victory and peace, the rear one wearing a diadem of authority, all encircled by an inscription. On the reverse, a river god—evoking the Niemen—leans on a water jug while cradling a small house (a emblem of security and hearth) beside a young olive tree, the timeless symbol of peace, framed by further lettering and an exergue inscription. Andrieu's masterful striking technique on silver showcases fine detail in a compact 4 cm diameter, blending classical motifs with contemporary propaganda to celebrate diplomatic triumph. As a numismatic gem, this medal reflects early 19th-century medallic art's role in glorifying state events, blending engraving precision with symbolic depth for both collectors and contemporaries.

About the Artist

Bertrand Andrieu · 1761–1822

French, Bordeaux 1761–1822 Paris