Portret van Anthony Ashley Cooper 1743

This engraving by Jacob Houbraken at the Rijksmuseum depicts Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury. The portrait itself is framed by an elaborate cartouche, but it is the allegorical figure below that truly captures our attention. Here, we see a winged putto, a cherubic figure often associated with love and innocence, playfully brandishing a sword and shield. The image of the putto, derived from classical antiquity, has appeared for centuries in funerary art and as an emblem of childhood innocence. Yet, this innocent figure wields the sword, a symbol of power and authority. The juxtaposition of the putto’s innocence with the sword's symbolism is a potent reminder of how power and authority can be intertwined with innocence and vulnerability. Much like the ever-evolving image of the snake in the Garden of Eden, this image has been recontextualized to represent the complex interplay between virtue and power.