Portret van Lodewijk X van Beieren 1773

This is Joseph Anton Zimmermann’s portrait of Louis X, Duke of Bavaria, made in the 18th century. Note the duke's confident gesture as he holds a document, a symbol of authority and knowledge deeply rooted in classical antiquity. The act of holding or presenting a scroll, tablet, or book is a potent motif that stretches back through millennia. Consider the Roman emperors depicted with scrolls, embodying law and governance, or the biblical prophets holding sacred texts, signifying divine wisdom. This image, charged with historical weight, conveys a claim to power, inherited and asserted. Yet, observe how the duke’s gaze avoids direct contact; a subtle divergence from the authoritative stance. Does this not hint at the complexities beneath the surface of power? Perhaps it echoes the anxieties of legacy and legitimacy, a reminder that even the most potent symbols are subject to interpretation and bear the weight of past and present uncertainties. This image, like any symbol, invites us to look closer, beyond the surface, and trace the long, winding path of meaning across time.