Authority Collection

The King of Kings -- Jesus Christ surrounded by rulers (kings, queens, emperors, etc) from various countries and periods in history. 1916

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch. The palace, originally known as Buckingham House (and still nicknamed Buck House by the royal family)

The Car That Touched a Policeman by H. M. Bateman
An entire queue of traffic, as well as pedestrians stop and look on in horror as a couple driving a small, yellow car accidentally bump an incandescently irate policeman in the middle of the road

Scotland forever, by Elizabeth Southerden Thompson, oil on canvas, 1881
Elizabeth Southerden Thompson, Lady Butler (1846-1933), Scotland forever, 1881, oil on canvas

Metropolitan Police recruitment poster
A Metropolitan Police recruitment poster, asking for ex-servicemen to apply. There are several hundred vacancies to fill

Metropolitan Police whistle and chain
A Metropolitan Police whistle and chain

EMMELINE PANKHURST (1858-1928). English woman-suffrage advocate. Mrs. Pankhurst arrested outside Buckingham Palace, London, while trying to present a petition to King George V, 21 May 1914

Masonic Regalia
The regalia and accoutrements appropriate to the dignity, puissance and authority of the Grand Officer of the Grand Lodge of England

First Parliamentary Labour (Socialist) Party gathered
The first Parliamentary Labour (Socialist) Party gathered on the terrace of the House of Commons, London, 1906. Ramsay Macdonald is seated third from the left, then Arthur Henderson and next to him

Ladislaus I of Hungary or St. Ladislaus (Laszlo) (1040-1095). King of Hungary between 1077-1095. Portrait by Ignac Roskovics (1854-1916). Hungarian National Gallery. Budapest. Hungary

General Ulysses S. Grant amid his service during The American Civil War

Battersea Power Station Silhouette
25th January 1954: Battersea power station in London. With dimensions of 160m x 170m, the roof of the boiler house 50m tall, and its four 103m tall, tapering chimneys

Bust of Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese socialist flag, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Police dog attacking a young black man during the Youth Mass Demonstration in Birmingham, Alabama, spring 1963
CIVIL RIGHTS, 1963. Police dog attacking a young black man during the Youth Mass Demonstration in Birmingham, Alabama, spring 1963

Metropolitan Police officer on traffic duty
A Metropolitan Police officer, PC Edward Ridout of Chelsea Police Station, on traffic duty. He is standing by a zebra crossing to help a little boy across the road

Vintage painting of Frederick the Great of Prussia
Vintage painting of Frederick the Great. Frederick II was the King of Prussia from 1740 until 1786. Original painted by Wilhelm Camphausen, 1870

Kay Snap - Mr Bobby the Policeman. 1930s

Illustration of the signature of Elizabeth I

London Power Station
2nd July 1955: Battersea power station in London. Original Publication: Picture Post - 7838 - What can The Citizen Do ? - pub. 1958 (Photo by Michael Hardy/Picture Post/Getty Images)

Household Cavalry, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Stobhill Hospital, Springburn, Glasgow, Scotland
Stobhill Hospital was erected in 1903-4 at Springburn, Glasgow, by the citys poor law authority. It provided around 2000 beds for the infirm and chronically sick poor, and for children

Geo Roes Irish Whisky
This advert extols the medicinal benefits of whisky quoting the British Medical Journal for authority

Flag of Ireland Illustration
Also known as the " Tricolour, " the national flag of the Republic of Ireland has three equal stripes illustrate the Irish political landscape as accurately today as in 1848

Illustration of flag of Scotland, with white saltire on blue field

Illustration of flag of Israel, with blue Star of David between two horizontal blue stripes on white field

Statue of Lady Justice with sword, scales and blindfold, Old Bailey, Central Criminal Court, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Scales of Justice, Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Policeman at a police call box
A policeman on the phone at a police public call box on a London street

Metropolitan Police air raid siren
A Metropolitan Police air raid siren, as used in wartime

Metropolitan Police walkie talkie radio
A Metropolitan Police walkie talkie radio

State House, Boston MA
Capitol, Government, State House, Boston, Geranium flower

Gymnast performing on square rubber floor mat, panel of judges on one side

The Brazilian Congress, Brasilia, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Brazil, South America

1957 nuclear test: Fall-out
Fallout: The sinister and prolonged after-effect of nuclear explosions: a drawing illustrating some characteristics of this haunting phenomenon.An illustration by special Illustrated London News

Four Rc Doctors 16C
The four doctors of the Catholic Church: Augustine, Gregory, Jerome and Ambrose, sitting at a table with their books

Illustration of national flag and state ensign of Colombia, a horizontal tricolor of yellow, blue and red

Illustration of flag of Cuba, with field of five blue and white stripes, and red equilateral triangle and white 5-pointed star in middle

Ottoman Empire. Sultan received in the Topkapi Palace counse
Ottoman Empire. Turkey. Sultan received in the courtroom of the Topkapi Palace counselors. Istanbul. Recorded. Engraving 19th century. Colored

Illustration of flag of Iraq, 1991-2004, a horizontal tricolor of red, white, and black, with Takbir between three green stars

Digital illustration of Wales national football association crest

World War II poster of Uncle Sam and President Franklin Roosevelt
Vintage World War II propaganda poster featuring Uncle Sam and President Franklin Roosevelt. It reads, I Want You FDR. Stay And Finish The Job!

Painting of Union Army General Philip Sheridan

Policemen in station parade room, London
Four policemen stand ready in their uniforms, with notebooks, whistles and truncheons, in the station parade room at Ruislip, north west London, watched by their commanding officer

John Wyclif and the Lollards
John Wyclif, Christian theologian and reformer, sending out some of his followers, known as Lollards, on their teaching missions

Illustration of national flag of Denmark, with white Scandinavian cross extending to edges of red field

Illustration of flag of Poland, a horizontal bicolor of white and red

Havana. El Morro fort and lighthouse
The Morro Castle (Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro), named after the three biblical Magi, is a fortress guarding the entrance to Havana bay in Havana, Cuba

Parliament House on Capital Hill
Canberra, Australia

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"Authority: A Tapestry of Power, Struggle, and Symbolism" From the majestic presence of "The King of Kings" to the humorous encounter in "The Car That Touched a Policeman, " authority takes on various forms throughout history, and is both revered and challenged, depicted vividly in artworks like the Metropolitan Police recruitment poster and Elizabeth Southerden Thompson's masterpiece "Scotland forever. " In times of conflict, authority emerges as General Ulysses S. Grant commands his troops during The American Civil War. Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace stands tall as the official London residence symbolizing regal power. Yet even within these structures, rebellion finds its voice. Emmeline Pankhurst's arrest outside Buckingham Palace serves as a poignant reminder of women's fight for suffrage against established authority. Masonic Regalia represents an intricate web of secret societies that hold their own form of influence. Moving beyond borders, we witness symbols from different cultures shaping authority. The silhouette of Battersea Power Station looms large over London's skyline—an emblematic representation of industrial might and control. In Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh's bust alongside the socialist flag signifies revolutionary leadership challenging colonial rule. However, not all manifestations are noble or just. The haunting image captures a police dog attacking a young black man during Birmingham's Youth Mass Demonstration—a stark reminder that they are be abused and wielded unjustly. Amidst this complex tapestry lies everyday life where ordinary individuals uphold order—like the diligent Metropolitan Police officer on traffic duty ensuring safety on bustling streets. Authority encompasses more than mere titles; it embodies power dynamics woven into society's fabric across time and place. As we reflect upon these hints spanning artistry, politics, activism, and law enforcement—we unravel the multifaceted nature itself—a force that shapes our world with both awe-inspiring grandeur and sobering consequences.