Portret van Louise, prinses der Nederlanden 1850 - 1871

This is an anonymous portrait of Louise, Princess of the Netherlands. Observe the jewel on her chest, an ornament reminiscent of the protective amulets worn since antiquity. These charms were believed to offer safety and ward off evil. From ancient Egypt, where amulets accompanied pharaohs into the afterlife, to the Renaissance, where they adorned the necks of royalty, these symbols have journeyed through time. Think, for example, of the ‘Hand of Fatima’ – a symbol present in different cultures throughout the world as a talisman of protection. Though their forms evolve—from pagan talismans to Christian relics—the impulse remains: a deep-seated human desire to guard against the unpredictable forces of fate, a collective cultural memory expressing subconscious needs for safety and assurance. The jewel here perhaps speaks to the emotional weight carried by royal figures. Just as in the past, it serves as a beacon of hope, a tangible link to the timeless human quest for security.