Portrait of Marie-Thérèse 1747

Johann Christoph Reinsperger created this portrait of Marie-Thérèse, Empress of the Romans, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. This print presents her encircled by an oval frame, a crown perched atop her powdered wig. Consider the crown, a potent symbol across millennia. From ancient laurel wreaths to medieval coronets, the crown signifies power, authority, and divine right. We see echoes of this in Pharaonic headdresses and papal tiaras, each iteration imbued with the cultural and religious values of its time. The crown in Marie-Thérèse's portrait, however, exists in a post-Enlightenment world. Its presence evokes a collective memory of monarchical power, even as the seeds of revolution were being sown. The crown is a powerful force, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level, triggering a complex interplay of reverence, aspiration, and perhaps, a stirring of resentment. It acts as a conduit, channeling the emotional weight of history into the present moment, shaping our perception of the subject and the artwork itself. This symbol is cyclical, resurfacing and evolving, carrying the weight of history while adapting to new contexts.