Penning met een embleem en de namen van Engelse koningen 1702 - 1714

This circular print, whose maker is now lost to us, presents a symbolic summary of English monarchs. At its heart, we see the terrestrial globe, surmounted by radiant initials and inscribed with the motto “Semper eadem,” forever the same, suggesting constancy amidst change. This emblem evokes ancient notions of world order, reminiscent of the Roman imperial symbols where the globe signified dominion. Yet, here, the surrounding compasses and the structured listing of royal names transform the globe into a measure of time and governance. The arrangement recalls the cyclical nature of history, a concept not unfamiliar to the Renaissance mind, reflecting a vision of rulers as figures within an ever-turning wheel of fortune. We are reminded that the emotional resonance of power—its rise and fall—engages us on a subconscious level, stirring deep-seated anxieties and hopes. The symbol of the globe and its ever-turning compass points suggest not just temporal progression, but also the persistence of symbols and ideas, echoing through time, continually reborn in altered forms, each reflecting the anxieties and aspirations of their age.