Portret van Engel de Ruyter 1689 - 1712

Cornelis Huyberts’ engraving captures Jonker Engel de Ruyter before a dramatic naval scene. The maritime backdrop is no mere decoration; it's a stage where symbols of power and the human drama of conquest play out. The ships, locked in combat, are reminiscent of ancient amphitheatres, echoing the gladiatorial contests of Rome, where life and death hung in the balance, reflecting man's eternal struggle for dominance. Note the globe, a motif stretching back to antiquity. Ptolemy used it to map the known world. Here, it signifies the Dutch Republic's ambitions, its gaze cast towards distant shores. The globe, an emblem of worldly dominion, evolved from simple spheres representing the cosmos to complex maps charting colonial expansion. It evokes a powerful blend of knowledge, control, and the inherent human desire to map and master our world. These symbols are not static; they resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings, reminding us of the cyclical, non-linear progression of history.