Portret van Georg Adam, Freiherr von Varell 1768

This is a print of Georg Adam, Freiherr von Varell, made by Johann Adam Schweickart. The portrait contains symbols of power and status common in depictions of nobility of the time. Consider the baton he holds, a shortened version of the scepter, symbol of command and authority, echoing ancient Roman and Egyptian symbols of power. In antiquity, the scepter was associated with gods and rulers, a motif we see repeated through the ages. Think of the Renaissance portraits where rulers clutch similar batons, emblems of their divinely sanctioned dominion. This symbol transcends mere representation; it evokes a primal, almost subconscious recognition of leadership, tapping into our collective memory. The baton, like the snake, is a phallic symbol. We see it resurface, evolving, in different contexts, such as the caduceus. Through history, it has taken on new meanings, from a symbol of healing to one of commerce, bearing its psychological weight.