Portret van August von Braunschweig-Lüneburg 1630

Lucas Kilian crafted this print of August von Braunschweig-Lüneburg in 1616, capturing the Duke within an elaborate oval frame. The laurel wreath encircling his portrait immediately signals honor and virtue, a visual trope extending back to ancient Roman triumphs. Observe how the wreath motif reappears throughout history, adorning emperors and poets alike. Yet, its significance is not static. Initially, it symbolized military victory, gradually evolving to denote intellectual and artistic achievement. This transformation reflects a collective yearning for recognition, a desire to immortalize oneself through enduring symbols. The very act of bestowing a laurel wreath taps into deep-seated psychological needs, as it’s a way of conquering mortality through fame. The presence of laurel wreaths in this context is a testament to the enduring power of symbols, their capacity to carry meaning across centuries, always shifting, and yet always resonating with the human psyche.