Wapen van Frederik Hendrik, prins van Oranje 1630

This is Simon van de Passe’s engraving of the coat of arms of Frederik Hendrik, Prince of Orange. Dominating the composition is the heraldic shield, quartered with symbols of power: lions, hunting horns, and checkered patterns, each a signifier of dominion and lineage. Surrounding the shield, we find branches laden with oranges, a subtle yet potent emblem. The orange, beyond its immediate representation of the House of Orange, has deep roots. In ancient mythology, golden apples, not unlike these oranges, were symbols of immortality and divine favor. This echoes the alchemic quest for eternal life, suggesting a desire to transcend mortality through legacy and power. The resurgence of such symbols underscores a cyclical pattern in human expression. The past, it seems, is never truly dead; it resurfaces, transmuted yet recognizable, in the visual language of subsequent eras, imbuing it with psychological weight.