Portret van Maria, hertogin van Bourgondië 1620

Adriaen Matham created this print of Maria, Duchess of Burgundy. Note the heraldic shield which displays a double-headed eagle and fleur-de-lis, symbols of power and lineage that would have been instantly recognizable. The eagle, prominently displayed, is a symbol tracing back to ancient empires, adopted and adapted through the ages to signify dominion. The motif migrates to Rome, then onward to the Holy Roman Empire, each time imbued with renewed authority. Beside it, the fleur-de-lis—long associated with French royalty—suggests a divine right to rule, each emblem a visual shorthand for complex claims of sovereignty. Consider the enduring appeal and adaptation of these symbols—a continuous renegotiation of power, memory, and cultural identity, echoing across time.