Portret van Samuel von Weiss Schal'en op 60-jarige leeftijd 1632

This engraving, crafted by Matthäus Merian in 1632, immortalizes Samuel von Weiss Schalen at age 60. Note the prominence given to the inscription circling the portrait: "Supreme Judge of the Military Forces of the Swedish Royal Army." The circular format itself hearkens back to ancient Roman portraiture, a visual echo of authority and timelessness. The star in the inscription symbolizes divine guidance, a motif stretching back to Mesopotamian art, where celestial bodies were linked to rulers and destiny. Consider the enduring power of such symbols. The circle, a symbol of eternity, reappears in countless forms, from halos in religious art to wedding rings. The star, once a guide for ancient navigators, still glitters on flags and emblems. These images, embedded in our collective consciousness, tap into primal emotions of hope, authority, and the search for meaning. The artist knew well the power of these ancestral images to evoke feelings of reverence and awe.