In October 1813 Napoleon suffered a bitter defeat in the Battle of Leipzig and the French Period in the Netherlands came to an end. A month later Prince William Frederick of Orange-Nassau, the son of Stadholder William V, who was ousted in 1795, returned to the Netherlands from exile, upon the invitation of the Provisional Government and was proclaimed sovereign prince of the United Netherlands. After the Congress of Vienna he was officially invested as King in 1815.
These small marble medallions are portraits of King William I (NG-816-2) and his two sons (both of whom are turned towards him): crown Prince William (shown here) and his younger brother, Prince Frederick (NG-816-3). They are all wearing military uniform, with the appropriate insignia and decorations pinned on their chests. For instance, William I wears the star of the Order of the Garter and his elder son the chain of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The portraits are based on prints after paintings by Charles Howard Hodges from around 1814-16 (cf. RP-P-OB-21.379, RP-P-1903-A-23338, RP-P-1903-A-23339) and were probably made shortly after that as memorabilia of the House of Orange.
Bieke van der Mark, 2026
