Ridderorden uit Portugal 1843

This print of Portuguese honors was made by Willem Charles Magnenat, though the date of its creation is unknown. The print depicts the visual codes of Portuguese society, these being the medals awarded for service to the country. The image's meaning lies in the history and structure of Portuguese society. These medals represent the hierarchy of power, the rewards granted by the state, and the visual reinforcement of a particular social order. We might ask, who was entitled to wear these decorations? What political or military events might have led to a proliferation of these awards at a given time? These are questions about the institutional life of Portugal. To understand the image more fully, one might delve into the archives of the Portuguese government or the records of the royal houses to see how the awards were used and valued, and who received them. In this way, the image becomes not just a pretty picture but a window into the social and political life of a nation.