Titelprent van een plaatwerk over de kroning van Frans I Stefan tot keizer 1747

This print by Jan Caspar Philips, dating from 1747, commemorates the coronation of Frans I Stefan. The central image depicts the coronation ceremony, framed by an ornate cartouche. The Habsburg double-headed eagle, prominently displayed, embodies imperial authority. We see it again and again, from ancient Hittite carvings to Roman coinage, and later adopted by numerous empires throughout history, each iteration echoing the power and legitimacy of its predecessors. The eagle carries with it the weight of history, yet it is continuously reimagined. Consider the scepter, a symbol of royal power, stretching back to ancient Egypt. What primal desire for order and control does this seemingly simple object represent? These symbols are not static; instead, they evolve, accumulating layers of meaning and adapting to new cultural contexts. They tap into our collective memory and resurface in different forms throughout history.