Forarbejde til fire af hovederne til stikket: Frederik d. Store rider hjem efter en revy ved Potsdam 1788

J.F. Clemens rendered this study for an engraving of Frederick the Great around the late 18th or early 19th century. Note the recurring motif of the feathered hat, a potent symbol of authority and status throughout history. These elaborate hats find their echoes in the plumed helmets of ancient Roman generals, emblems of military prowess and imperial command. Consider, too, how this symbol transcends the boundaries of warfare, appearing in Renaissance portraits as a marker of noble lineage and cultivated elegance. The feather, initially denoting martial strength, gradually transmutes into a signifier of aristocratic refinement. This shift speaks volumes about the evolving psychology of power, as martial dominance gives way to courtly grace as a means of asserting authority. The cyclical recurrence of the feathered headgear is a testament to the enduring power of symbols to embody and project humanity’s ever-changing aspirations.