Portret van John Dryden 1666 - 1707

Gérard Edelinck created this portrait of John Dryden using engraving. Notice the laurel wreath in Dryden's hand. In antiquity, this wreath symbolized triumph, a non-verbal assertion of accomplishment in poetry and intellectual pursuits. The wreath connects Dryden to Apollo, the Greco-Roman god of poetry, music, and light. But let us not forget its earlier symbolic genesis: the laurel was used in ancient rituals to induce prophetic trances. Here, Dryden holds the wreath, perhaps signifying not only poetic achievement but also a deeper connection to the wellspring of creative inspiration. Consider the cyclical nature of symbols. This wreath, once a marker of divinity and prophetic insight, now reappears as a signifier of artistic prowess. Its evolution illustrates the human desire to capture and control the elusive forces of inspiration, transforming them into tangible signs of cultural and intellectual authority.