Adapting Antiquity: References to Classical Literature on Early Modern Swedish Medals

One visual medium that is rather overlooked these days was particularly suited to the proclamation of great deeds and the insinuation of the always so fashionable flair of Antiquity, namely medallic art. This paper presents a selection of case studies exploring the use of ancient topoi illustrated on medals, and studying the purpose and significance of medals depicting early modern Swedish monarchs. Questions will be raised about how references to classical literature such as Ovid, Vergil or Horace are combined within the limits of a medal and in what way are the classical references reused and adapted to the new context. The aim of this paper is to provide a complement to the iconographic analysis by paying particular attention to the inscriptions and their connection to the images presented on medals. Subsequently, this will shed light on the innovative usage of classical literature on medals from early modern Sweden.