Portret van Filips II, hertog van Orléans 1716

Louise Magdeleine Horthemels created this portrait of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, using engraving techniques. Here, we see the Duke adorned in armor, holding a baton—symbols of leadership and military strength. Consider the baton: a symbol of authority, echoed through the ages. We see its predecessors in ancient scepters, Roman fasces, and medieval royal staffs. It appears in countless contexts, each time subtly shifting in meaning, from a simple emblem of power to a complex symbol of justice and command. The baton acts as a powerful focal point in the composition, subconsciously reassuring us of the sitter's power. These are not merely tools of governance, but embodiments of collective memory and inherited authority. The baton resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, demonstrating the cyclical progression of symbols through time.