Köpfchen zur Einfassung der Veitschen Freskobilder im Städelschen Kunstinstitut 

Eugen Eduard Schäffer created this drawing of head studies to frame frescos at the Städelsches Kunstinstitut. The portraits, rendered in profile, evoke the classical tradition of portraiture found in ancient coins and cameos. Consider Nicola Pisano: his image, captured here, reminds us of similar profiles found on Roman coins. This conscious revival of classical forms speaks to a broader cultural phenomenon, the *Antike*, which flourished during the Renaissance. It mirrors a longing for the order and harmony of the ancient world, where the profile was a symbol of power, nobility, and idealized beauty. The practice of immortalizing figures in profile has continued through time, appearing in the Renaissance, where it symbolized the revival of classical values, and even resurfaces in modern society. Each revival is a psychological echo, resonating with collective memories of greatness. This echoes the cyclical nature of history, where forms and symbols never truly disappear but are constantly reborn.