Vuurwerk bij de kroning van Karel VI

About this artwork

Zilveren penning. Voorzijde: borststuk man met lauwerkrans binnen omschrift. Keerzijde: vuurwerk boven paleistuin binnen omschrift; afsnede: opschrift

Art Historical Context

This silver medal, struck in 1712 by German medallist Georg Wilhelm Vestner, commemorates the spectacular fireworks display held to celebrate the coronation of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. Measuring just 4.4 centimetres in diameter, the piece exemplifies the refined art of medal-making that flourished in early eighteenth-century Europe. On the obverse, a laurel-wreathed portrait of the emperor appears within a Latin inscription, while the reverse captures the dramatic night scene of fireworks bursting above a palace garden, with an inscription noting the event in the exergue. Such struck medals served both as artistic souvenirs and historical documents, distributed among courtiers and collectors to mark significant political occasions. Vestner’s precise engraving technique allowed fine details of the emperor’s profile and the pyrotechnic spectacle to be preserved in durable metal. The choice of silver further enhanced its prestige, transforming a fleeting public celebration into a lasting emblem of imperial power and festivity. Today the medal offers viewers a vivid glimpse into Baroque court culture, where art, politics, and spectacle intertwined to reinforce monarchical authority.

About the Artist

Georg Wilhelm Vestner · 1677–1740

German, Schweinfurth 1677–1740 Nuremberg