Allegorisch portret van Maria de' Medici met de inname van Gulik, 1610 1707

Bernard Picart’s etching portrays Maria de’ Medici as a triumphant queen. The symbolic language is rich: a winged figure crowns her with laurel, symbol of victory and eternal glory, while the fleur-de-lis atop her helmet proclaims French royalty. Beside her walks a woman with a lion, an allegory of strength and courage. These motifs echo through art history. The winged figure, reminiscent of ancient Roman depictions of Fame, carries echoes of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Consider the laurel wreath: from emperors to poets, it signifies honor. The symbolic weight of the lion links back to ancient Near Eastern art, and its enduring association with power and regality. These images are deeply rooted in our collective consciousness. The artist engages with this subconscious through symbols and iconography, which act as powerful conduits for transmitting cultural memory and emotional experiences. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings.