Portret van keizer Jozef I op jonge leeftijd 1685 - 1713

Pieter Schenk's engraving portrays a youthful Emperor Joseph I, his image framed by an oval that gives it the feel of an ancient coin. Above him is the inscription "Reger Patrys Virtutibus orbem" invoking virtue as a guiding principle. Note the cape draped over his shoulder: a symbol echoing through centuries, reminiscent of Roman imperial portraits. The cape, or pallium, has roots in ancient Greece and Rome where it signified status, authority, and connection to the divine. Emperors and philosophers alike were depicted wearing it. Across time, this motif resurfaces, imbued with new meaning yet retaining its core essence of power and authority. Even in modern political imagery, the strategic draping of a coat or shawl carries echoes of this ancient claim to dominance, a subtle yet potent message to those who understand the silent language of symbols. It is a visual echo of the past, and connects on a subconscious level with notions of leadership and control.