Entry of Marie de Medici into Amsterdam [plate 5 of 6] 1639

This is a copperplate engraving by Pieter Nolpe, documenting Marie de Medici’s ceremonial entry into Amsterdam. Note the procession of figures on horseback; equestrian imagery has long been associated with power and triumph, harking back to classical antiquity where emperors and generals were celebrated on horseback, and recall the statue of Marcus Aurelius. The procession, like the ancient Roman triumph, symbolizes victory and control. Consider how the raised baton held by a figure at the back mirrors the scepter, both alluding to authority. The baton, like the scepter, speaks of power, but unlike a scepter, it suggests a readiness for control, a latent force. These symbols aren't static; they are constantly being reinvented across time. The motifs in this image are part of a visual language that echoes through history, constantly adapting and reappearing, reflecting a cyclical nature of power and memory.