Design for the Decorated Panel of a Carriage 1700 - 1800

This is an anonymous design for a decorated panel of a carriage, made with pen and brown ink, and gray wash on paper. The design reflects the grandeur associated with the elite. Think about who would have been riding in such a carriage. The imagery on the panel is a classical reference of wealth, power, and status. The naked male figure in the center is a form of idealized masculinity, drawing on the artistic traditions of ancient Greece and Rome. But this is more than just an image of power, it also represents the power of display. A carriage isn't just a means of getting from one place to another. It’s a mobile stage on which one performs their status. The display speaks to the hierarchies of the time, of who is seen and who is doing the seeing. Consider, how does this design perpetuate class difference and what are the implications of displaying wealth so publicly?