Governor George Clinton 1782 - 1785

This miniature of Governor George Clinton was painted by John Ramage, though its precise date is unknown. Note the Governor's lace cravat, a symbol of status and refinement, reminiscent of the elaborate ruffs seen in 16th-century portraits of the European elite. This emblem of high standing, passed through generations, echoes in different forms. Consider the stiff, starched collars of Victorian gentry or the power suits of contemporary leaders. The impulse to visually assert dominance through adornment remains a constant. The cravat, like a mask, both reveals and conceals. It speaks of an attempt to craft an identity, a public persona presented to the world. How fascinating that, across centuries, the human desire to project an image of authority persists, subtly shaping our collective memory and influencing our subconscious perceptions. These symbols return, transformed yet familiar.