Bust of King Frederick the Great c. 1777 - 1785

This bust of King Frederick the Great presents us with symbols of power and authority. The King is adorned in what appears to be partial military garb. A single breastplate protects his chest, and a cape is fixed to his shoulder with a sunburst medallion. This sunburst motif has ancient roots, evoking the radiant, life-giving power of the sun, historically associated with gods and rulers across cultures. We see this echoed in the headdresses of ancient Egyptian pharaohs, and in the halos that adorn Christian saints. Consider how such symbols create a feeling of awe and reverence. These motifs tap into our collective memory, triggering subconscious associations of divinity and leadership. Just as the sun was seen as an unconquerable, governing force, so too was the ruler, whose image becomes an instrument of power. These symbols are far from static; they evolve, carrying layers of historical, cultural, and psychological meaning. They remind us that history is not linear, but cyclical, with symbols constantly resurfacing, transformed by each new epoch.