Portret van Filips V, koning van Spanje 1700 - 1712

This engraving by Cornelis Huyberts portrays Philip V, King of Spain, adorned with symbols of power and lineage. The most prominent of these is the crown. Since antiquity, the crown has been more than mere headwear; it is a potent emblem of authority, divinity, and the divine right to rule. Think of the laurel wreaths of Roman emperors, or the elaborate, gem-encrusted crowns of medieval monarchs, each reflecting the unique cultural and political landscape of its time. The crown also suggests a psychological weight. The weight of responsibility, expectations, and the isolation of leadership. Like a mask, it conceals and reveals, embodying the duality of power: the glorious facade and the heavy burden. The symbols of power evolve, adapt, and reappear, constantly shifting. They persist as echoes of human ambition and the eternal quest for meaning and order.