Portret van Lodewijk de Stamelaar 1633 - 1676

This engraving by Jean Frosne depicts Louis the Stammerer, King of France. Here, the fleur-de-lis, prominently displayed on his headgear and coat of arms, serves as a potent emblem of French royalty. The fleur-de-lis, with its stylized lily form, carries a lineage stretching back to ancient heraldry and religious symbolism. Initially a representation of purity, associated with the Virgin Mary, it was adopted by the French monarchy, becoming inseparable from the crown itself. But its path wasn't linear; in other contexts, the lily has been associated with transience, or even deception. Consider how symbols evolve, morphing through history, influenced by collective memory and unconscious desires. The fleur-de-lis, in its recurring appearance in art and culture, acts as a powerful psychological trigger, resonating with themes of authority, legitimacy, and national identity, engaging viewers on a deeply subconscious level. Its reappearance in this 17th-century portrait shows a cyclical progression. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in each historical context.