Portret van Lodewijk Anton van Bourbon 1815 - 1817

Jacques Noël Marie Frémy created this print of Lodewijk Anton van Bourbon with delicate lines, capturing the man in profile, adorned with military regalia. The epaulettes on his shoulders are particularly striking, not just as symbols of military rank, but as potent visual motifs. These shoulder decorations echo the armour of classical antiquity, reimagined through the lens of 19th-century militarism. Consider, for instance, the feathered helmets of ancient Greek warriors—how they too were designed to amplify the wearer's presence and instill a sense of awe. The epaulettes, like the plumes of old, serve as a kind of theatrical device, enhancing the Duke’s stature and projecting power. Throughout history, such symbols recur, evolving yet retaining their fundamental purpose: to evoke authority and command respect, playing on our collective psyche.