The Great Assembly of 1651 c. 1651

In Bartholomeus van Bassen's "The Great Assembly of 1651," banners emblazoned with heraldic devices dominate the scene. These flags, symbols of power and allegiance, evoke the long history of dynastic struggles and national identities in Europe. The banners, reminiscent of ancient Roman vexilla, are not mere decorations; they are potent emblems that connect the assembly to a lineage of authority. Consider how similar motifs reappear in Renaissance tapestries and medieval battle standards, each bearing its unique imprint yet echoing a shared ancestral language of heraldry. The display of these emblems points to a psychological dimension: the desire to assert dominance and inspire loyalty through symbolic representation. These symbols act as a visual shorthand, instantly evoking shared histories and cultural values. The banners in "The Great Assembly" are not static relics but dynamic carriers of cultural memory. Like the serpent that bites its own tail, these symbols embody a cyclical return, continuously resurfacing to shape our understanding of power and identity.