Deens koninklijk jacht 1622 - 1707

Willem van de Velde the Elder sketched this Deens koninklijk jacht, or Danish royal yacht, with pen in hand, capturing the ship's grandeur. Notice the elaborate carvings adorning the stern, almost baroque in their extravagance. These sculptural elements, reminiscent of figures from classical antiquity, are not mere decoration. They are symbols of power, of cultural continuity, harking back to the ancient world to legitimize contemporary authority. The stern becomes a stage for dynastic claims, resonating with emotional gravitas. We see echoes of similar motifs in triumphal arches and royal portraiture across Europe, each iteration subtly shifting in meaning yet always tethered to the original impulse: to impress, to awe, and to connect with a lineage stretching back through time. It’s a dance of images, each generation reinterpreting the past to suit its own ambitions. These symbols, passed down through history, affect us on a subconscious level, stirring feelings of respect and admiration.