Portret van Barthélemy Théodore Theux de Meylandt 1841

Charles Baugniet created this portrait of Barthélemy Théodore Theux de Meylandt. Here we see the subject in formal attire, his dress acting as a potent symbol of status. Consider the cravat: its presence speaks to a lineage that stretches back through history. We can recall images of the Roman orator, his throat bared in a gesture of power, or the medieval knight displaying his colors. Yet, here the cravat has evolved, tamed, becoming a symbol of bourgeois respectability. The frock coat, too, carries echoes of military garb, reshaped and softened for civilian life. These symbols tell of a cultural memory—an interplay between power, status, and societal norms. They serve as a poignant reminder of how symbols shift through the ages.