Borstbeeld van Lodewijk Napoleon, koning van Holland 1806

Pierre Cartellier sculpted this marble bust of Lodewijk Napoleon, King of Holland. Note the epaulettes, and the sovereign's sash, symbols of power and status that echo through history. Consider their likeness to the laurel wreaths and togas of Roman emperors, a visual language adopted by Napoleon to legitimize his rule. This iconography of power is not merely ornamental. It taps into a deep-seated psychological need for authority and order, a collective memory of leadership that resonates even today. The bust revives these symbols but imbues them with new life, a reflection of his aspirations and place in the grand narrative of history. These symbols are in constant flux, continually readapted, reformed, and recontextualized.