Portret van Karel I van Engeland 1685 - 1732

This is Philip van Gunst's engraving of Charles I of England, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. At the time this was made, representations of monarchs were carefully constructed to reinforce ideas of divine right and power. Note how Charles is adorned in armor, a symbol of military strength, framed by laurel leaves, referencing victory and honor. Yet, there's an undeniable vulnerability in his gaze, a hint of the turmoil that defined his reign. Charles's belief in the divine right of kings clashed with an increasingly assertive Parliament. He eventually was tried and executed, an unprecedented event that challenged the very concept of monarchy. Van Gunst’s portrait encapsulates this tension, capturing both the authority Charles claimed and the fragility of his position. It reminds us of the complex interplay between personal identity, political power, and the sweeping tides of history.