Portret van Josef Valentin Sebastian Eybel 1749 - 1796

Johann Ernst Mansfeld created this portrait of Josef Valentin Sebastian Eybel. Here, we see the subject encircled in an oval frame, a symbol echoing back to ancient Roman portraiture, where the *imago clipeata*, or shield portrait, honored ancestors. Notice the laurel wreath adorning the top and bottom of the oval. Laurel, an emblem of victory and eternal life, has roots in Greek mythology, where Apollo wore a laurel crown after the battle. This motif enjoyed a resurgence during the Renaissance, symbolizing humanist ideals of glory and intellectual attainment. Its presence here, framing Eybel, suggests a connection to these enduring themes. The text at the bottom further underscores his accomplishments, cementing his legacy for posterity. Such visual elements invite us to consider how symbols evolve, carrying echoes of the past, transforming with each new context, and engaging our collective memory.