Portret van Charles Maurice hertog van Talleyrand-Périgord 1808 - 1868

This is Carl Mayer’s portrait of Charles Maurice, created in the 19th century, a print held at the Rijksmuseum. The white flower pinned to Talleyrand’s lapel is the eye-catcher here. Once, in antiquity, floral emblems signified deities, or victories. But over time, the flower has resurfaced as a token of sentiment, or a marker of allegiance—think of the Tudor rose of England! Here, adorning a statesman, the flower perhaps signals a leaning, a secret sympathy. The buttonhole flower, or boutonnière, as we know it today, has humble origins; often, it contained herbs to ward off foul odors. Perhaps, the wearer wanted to be protected from the foul odours of political life? The flower, through its presence, engages us in a silent dialogue, a subtle dance of power, memory, and meaning, inviting us to ponder the mysteries held within a simple bloom.