Koning Willem II 1849 - 1850

This is Hendrik Wilhelmus Last’s portrait of King Willem II. The king is proudly wearing his military regalia. The cross suspended from his neck is a powerful emblem. The cross’s journey through time is fascinating. Once a symbol of profound religious significance, it was adopted by rulers and empires as an emblem of authority. Consider the Roman emperors who, after Constantine's conversion, integrated the cross into their imperial iconography, thus intertwining spiritual and temporal power. Here, it's a secular badge of honor and command. Yet, deep in our collective memory, the cross still resonates with notions of sacrifice, redemption, and, of course, power. The very act of wearing it can be seen as a psychological assertion, a subconscious appeal to both divine and earthly authority. It is a cyclical progression through history and culture, evoking deeply embedded emotions and memories.