Sovereigns, 1869

This print by James Tissot, published in Vanity Fair in 1869, presents us with a caricature of a European sovereign, accompanied by a figure resembling an angel. She's adorned with a wreath and places a finger to her lips, signaling silence or secrecy. The motif of the angel is a powerful one, appearing throughout history in various guises. Consider the Winged Victory of Samothrace—the symbol of triumph and divine favor. Yet, here, the angel's gesture complicates the narrative. Is she urging discretion, hinting at hidden truths, or perhaps silencing dissent? This echoes the complexities of power and authority. The sovereign, in his Napoleonic hat, is perhaps a reference to past glories, yet he is now guided by an angel of silence, a symbol that will resurface through time, carrying messages of covert influence. A symbol that evolves, reminding us that the echoes of the past always whisper to the present.