Portrait of William I, King of the Netherlands 1819

Joseph Paelinck painted this portrait of William I, King of the Netherlands, in the early 19th century. It presents a man keen to establish his dynasty through familiar visual strategies. The red robe trimmed with ermine, the crown on the table, the ornate throne behind him: all these are codes of monarchy. But look closer. This isn't absolutist France. William’s costume is restrained and modern. The setting is austere, without baroque excess. The Netherlands had been a republic for centuries. Even as empires rose and fell, the Dutch Republic had been a haven of religious and political freedom. Monarchy was restored only after Napoleon’s defeat, and William knew he had to reassure his people that he wouldn't be an autocrat. The historian uses such images as sources, reading them alongside documents and political theory to understand the dialogue between rulers and ruled.