Maunel Silvela 1812

This is Francisco Goya’s portrait of Maunel Silvela, a painting of oil on canvas now hanging in the Museo del Prado. Notice the sitter’s neckwear. It is a ‘mervielleuse’ scarf, a symbol of the French Revolution which broke with the aristocratic fashion of the Ancien Régime, adopting instead a more informal, androgynous, and antique-inspired style. This seemingly simple scarf carries the weight of political upheaval and societal transformation. The roots of the ‘mervielleuse’ neckwear can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where draped fabrics signified freedom and republican ideals. In the 18th century, this motif resurfaced, channeling the same revolutionary spirit. Yet, by the 19th century, its symbolic power had waned, evolving into a mere fashion accessory. The cyclical progression of symbols speaks to our collective memory and subconscious desires. The scarf, laden with historical meaning, engages our subconscious and resonates with feelings of liberation, rebellion, and change, forever evoking echoes of revolution.