Cartouche met leeuwenkop, twee schilden en twee trompetblazende engelen die een helm ondersteunen 1646

Stefano della Bella created this print of a cartouche with a lion's head and two trumpet-blowing angels, supporting a helmet, in the mid-seventeenth century. This print offers us a glimpse into the visual culture of Baroque-era Europe, steeped in symbolism and heraldry. The lion's head at the base signifies courage and nobility, virtues prized by the aristocracy. Above, two angels herald the achievements of the family whose coat-of-arms would have occupied the central shield. The helmet atop the cartouche also denoted rank and military prowess. Made during a period of intense social stratification, such imagery served to visually reinforce existing power structures. Commissioned by wealthy patrons, prints like this were a form of propaganda, designed to communicate status and legitimacy. The Rijksmuseum's collection provides a valuable resource for understanding the networks of patronage and artistic production that sustained such visual displays of power. By examining the social context, we can gain insight into the enduring role of art in shaping perceptions of authority.