Penning met het portret van Karel II van Engeland 1718

Bernard Picart created this print of a medal portraying Charles II of England, and it presents us with symbols ripe with historical and cultural meaning. On one side, we see Charles II, adorned in armour, a symbol of strength and sovereignty. Turn to the other side, and you see ships at sea beneath an angel playing a trumpet. The sea, a symbol of both opportunity and danger, evokes the collective memory of maritime power. Trumpeting angels also appear throughout history and across cultures, signaling divine intervention, victory, and the heralding of important events. Consider how the motif of the angel has evolved from early Christian art to the Renaissance, often embodying purity and divine guidance, yet also acting as a symbol of power and authority. These symbols engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level, stirring emotions tied to national pride, religious faith, and the complex relationship between rulers and their realms. This cyclical progression of symbols resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts, constantly engaging the collective psyche.