Portrætmedaillon af Augustus. Romersk kejser 1739

Didrich Gercken rendered this portrait medallion of Augustus, the Roman Emperor, with pen and brown ink. Dominating the image is Augustus himself, his profile framed by a laurel wreath. The laurel, a symbol of victory and imperial power, hearkens back to ancient Greece, where it crowned victorious athletes and heroes. It's a motif that reappears throughout history, adorning emperors and generals, each time evoking the glory of past empires. Yet, the meaning shifts; in some eras, it represents peace, in others, military might. Consider how such symbols are not merely decorative. They are vessels of cultural memory. The collective subconscious of Europe, haunted by the specter of Roman power, resurrects the laurel again and again. It’s as if the desire for order, for a Pax Romana, constantly resurfaces, cloaking new figures in ancient symbols. These are not linear progressions but cyclical returns, where the past seeps into the present, shaping our perception of power and authority.