Ivar Rosenkrantz 1745 - 1780

Andreas Thornborg captured Ivar Rosenkrantz in this diminutive portrait. The symbols of power displayed tell us much about the era's conventions. Notice the elaborate wig, the delicate lace, and the sash across his chest, anchoring a radiant starburst medallion. The display of status through clothing and ornament is an ancient urge, harking back to tribal displays of prowess. Even the most fashionable wig of the 18th century is but a distant echo of a lion’s mane. This need to signal our position, our value, manifests itself across time. Each era finds its own language, its own set of symbols, yet the underlying impulse remains constant. It is the primal scream echoing through the corridors of culture. The symbols evolve, the message persists, the play of power never ends.