Ruiterstandbeeld van zilver, vermoedelijk Keizer Ferdinand III of Matthias 1625 - 1650

This silver equestrian statuette, possibly depicting Emperor Ferdinand III or Matthias, is an anonymous work of remarkable detail. Mounted on a dark wooden base, the sculpture employs a striking contrast between the matte wood and the reflective, polished silver. The composition is hierarchical, with the equestrian figure elevated, commanding a visual space that emphasizes power and authority. Note how the anonymous artist uses the rearing horse to create dynamic tension, giving the impression of movement frozen in time. Semiotically, the horse and rider can be viewed as signs representing nobility and control. The sculptural form itself seems to destabilize the fixed idea of power by miniaturizing it, playing with scale to engage questions of representation. The base, adorned with silver embellishments, acts as a plinth that grounds the artwork, underscoring its symbolic weight. This contrast in texture and colour invites us to consider how materiality functions not just aesthetically but also as part of a larger cultural discourse.