Portret van historicus Scipione Maffei 1712 - 1786

This print portrays Scipione Maffei, a historian, immortalized by Giovanni Marco Pitteri. Note the elaborate wig, a symbol of status and intellect during the 18th century. It speaks volumes about Maffei’s position in society and the importance of appearance in conveying authority. This wig is not merely a fashion statement; it's a conscious adoption of symbols of power that date back to ancient rulers and deities, whose elaborate hairstyles or headdresses signified their elevated status. Consider the wigs worn by figures in Roman portraiture or the hairstyles of Egyptian pharaohs – each served to visually reinforce their authority. Over time, these symbols resurface, transformed yet still resonant with their original power. The adoption of such symbols can be seen as a form of cultural memory, echoing through the ages. In the grand theater of history, we find a cyclical recurrence of symbols, each iteration carrying the echoes of its past, adapted to new contexts, and infused with new meaning.