Family Tree with Portraits of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Elizabeth, James, and Charles 

This symbolic Family Tree, created by an anonymous artist, intertwines portraits of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Elizabeth, James, and Charles within a dense network of heraldry. Here, we see more than just likenesses; we observe the potent symbols of crowns and royal arms, each carefully crafted to convey power and legitimacy. The family tree motif itself is ancient, echoing the Tree of Jesse in medieval iconography, a visual representation of lineage and divine right. The crown, of course, signifies sovereignty, but its presence atop each portrait roots back to antiquity. Consider the laurel wreath in ancient Rome: awarded to triumphant generals and emperors, it signified not just victory but also divine favor and immortality. This concept evolved. It transformed into the crowns adorning these figures, becoming powerful visual declarations of their divinely sanctioned rule. The cyclical progression of the symbol, with its resurfacing, evolution, and adoption of new meanings in different historical contexts, reflects our collective memory and shapes our understanding of power and identity.