Portretten van koning Willem III en koningin Maria II Stuart, 1689 1689

Adriaen Schoonebeek etched these portraits of King William III and Queen Mary II Stuart around 1689. Note how each figure holds symbols of power: William, a scepter and orb, emblems of sovereignty since antiquity, while Mary holds what seems to be a feathered fan. Crowns sit atop their heads, signifying their divine right to rule. Consider the orb, a miniature earth, grasped in William’s hand – a visual echo of the Roman emperors who held the world in their palm, promising order and control. This recalls earlier depictions of power, yet, even in its appropriation, we see a shift. The very act of borrowing these symbols is a cultural translation, a transformation of meaning that mirrors the anxieties and ambitions of the time. What remains is not mere imitation, but a potent reimagining. This image engages our collective memory, inviting us to reflect on power, continuity, and the cyclical nature of history.