Nomos 23

THE DUTCH REPUBLIC. Uncertain city. Mid to late 17th century. Marriage Medal (Silver, 63 mm, 49.57 g, 12 h). De Hern met godt In frou verbindt - Altyt des Heeren seegen bindt On the left, young man in formal dress standing right, clasping with his right hand the right hand of a young woman, in formal dress on the right, standing to left; behind the man, town buildings; behind the woman, a fruit tree; in the fields behind both, revellers. Rev. Des Heeren kracht en goedichheit - op desen feest Is vetgebreit Scene of the marriage at Cana, where Christ turned water to wine. At the right of the table, Christ, nimbate, sits facing with, on his right, the Virgin Mary, nimbate and veiled, and a young couple, and, on his left, two servants, one of whom raises his hands in amazement while the other pours wine into a vessel; on the left of the table, sits an elderly couple, both wearing pointed hats similar to those Jews were forced to wear in medieval times; before them a servant boy stands facing them and offers then a plate of food; behind the marriage table, view of a palatial building. Very rare and endearingly attractive. Toned. Nearly extremely fine.

The type on the reverse of this piece - the Marriage at Cana - is basically the same as that on the following medal: both must have been copied from the same original, either a painting or an engraving.