Tekening ter ere van de inhuldiging van Willem Frederik van Oranje Nassau c. 1900

This anonymous drawing at the Rijksmuseum commemorates the inauguration of Willem Frederik van Oranje Nassau. Its architectural framework, reminiscent of a classical temple, is replete with symbols intended to legitimize and celebrate the new ruler. Note the prominent use of classical columns, a motif reaching back to ancient Greece and Rome, signifying stability, strength, and the foundational virtues of civilization. These echo through time, resurfacing in Renaissance palaces and Enlightenment-era government buildings, each time reaffirming ideals of order and rational authority. Consider the allegorical figures flanking the central inscription; they are embodiments of virtues, linking Willem Frederik to a lineage of noble rulers. Such visual language, employed throughout the ages, taps into our collective memory, forging connections between present leaders and the revered figures of the past. The image acts as a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of power, eternally resurfacing in new forms.