Portret van Jules Hardouin-Mansart c. 1817

This print, made by Louis Marie Normand, commemorates Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the celebrated architect of Louis XIV's France. At its heart, we see Mansart’s profile encircled in a medallion, but it's the symbols around him that speak volumes. Notice the architectural plans and allegorical figures – these aren't just decorations. They evoke the spirit of classical antiquity, a visual language Mansart employed to legitimize the Sun King's power. This harks back to ancient Rome, where architectural grandeur was intertwined with imperial authority. The triumphal arch, for instance, reappears across centuries, from Roman emperors to French monarchs, each adapting its symbolism to their own ambitions. Such symbols tap into our collective memory, stirring subconscious associations with power and permanence. It's a psychological game, using recognizable motifs to evoke deep-seated emotions of awe and respect. These symbols are not static, instead, they undergo a metamorphosis, continually reshaped by each era that adopts them.