François de Vicq, Burgomaster of Amsterdam for several Terms from 1697on 1670

Gerard ter Borch painted this portrait of François de Vicq, Burgomaster of Amsterdam, capturing not just an individual, but the spirit of a rising merchant class. Note the cane and the hand-on-hip gesture. These are not mere adornments, but symbols of power harkening back to ancient Greece, where orators used gestures to command attention. Likewise, a staff or cane was a scepter of authority, seen in the hands of rulers from antiquity to the Renaissance. Think of Hermes with his caduceus. Here, these symbols are subtly democratized, repurposed for a civic leader, reflecting a shift in power from monarchy to the merchant class. This transformation is a fascinating example of how symbols evolve, carrying echoes of the past while adapting to new social contexts. The Burgomaster's composed gaze suggests a quiet confidence, embodying the psychological strength of a man at the helm of a powerful trading city. The Burgomaster's symbols show a non-linear progression, resurfacing and evolving, taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.