Wapen van Maurits, prins van Oranje c. 1555 - 1624

This is an engraving of the Wapen van Maurits, prins van Oranje, made by an anonymous artist. The image, replete with symbols of power and divinity, presents us with a complex interplay of identity and authority. Angels support a crest that is topped with a crown, while Latin text at the bottom speaks to divine favor and public trust. The piece thus reflects the era's deep-seated belief in the divine right of rulers. Engravings like this weren’t just art objects; they were tools of statecraft. In a time of religious and political upheaval, this image reinforced the prince’s authority and legitimized his rule. What does it mean to depict power as both divinely ordained and intimately linked to the land and its people? Consider how symbols of power can shape not only the perception of a ruler but also the collective identity of a nation.