Désiré-Joseph Mercier, after his priestly studies, became rector of the seminary in Leuven, Archbishop of Mechelen in 1906, Primate of Belgium, and in 1907 was made a cardinal. It was especially his courageous stance against the Germans during World War I that was immortalized on several medals. Jourdain also associates the Cardinal with his patriotism. This medal was issued in both large and small sizes. On the obverse, the bust of the cardinal is depicted, while the reverse shows an allegorical scene: a wounded soldier holds the hand of a woman symbolizing love for the homeland.
| Artist |
Jules Jourdain
RKD
|
|---|---|
|
Fonson & Cie.
|
|
| Title | Honorary Medal Portraying Cardinal Mercier |
| Date | 1914 |
| Period | 20th century |
| Location | Belgium TGN |
| Signatures, inscriptions, and markings | commission at the front, left: . A Sª. Lª CARDINAL MªRCIªR . |
| text at the front, at the right: . HOMMAGª . NATIONAL . | |
| signatures (names) at the front, at the right: J.JOURDAIN | |
| year on the reverse: I 9 I 4 | |
| text on the back, at the right: . PATRIOTISME . | |
| text at the back, left: . ENDURANCE . | |
| signatures (names) below: J.JOURDAIN | |
| Collection | medals AAT |
| Object type | medal of honour |
| Inventory number | 1934-J |
| Acquisition credit |
gift
Nève de Mervignies, Joseph 1934 |
| Permalink | https://mskgent.be/collection/work/data/1934-J |
| IIIF Manifest | https://imagehub.mskgent.be/iiif/3/11967/manifest.json |
| Art & Architecture Thesaurus |
300189808
figures (representations)
AAT
300015637 portraits AAT |
|---|---|
| Keywords Iconclass |
11P3112
cardinal
Iconclass
31A71 male sex; man Iconclass 61B2 historical persons Iconclass 61B2(DÉSIRÉ MERCIER) historical person (DÉSIRÉ MERCIER) Iconclass 61I(WORLD WAR I) names of historical events and situations (WORLD WAR I) Iconclass |
| School / Style | realism (artistic form of expression) AAT |
|
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