Maria met het Kind verschijnt aan keizer Augustus 1589 - 1626

Bartholomeus Willemsz. Dolendo created this engraving, "Maria met het Kind verschijnt aan keizer Augustus," where the Roman Emperor Augustus kneels before an apparition of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child. The scene captures a pivotal moment when Augustus, on the advice of the Sibyl, acknowledged a power greater than his own, laying the foundation for Christian Rome. Observe the motif of the kneeling figure, a symbol deeply rooted in supplication and reverence. Across cultures and centuries, this posture appears in ancient Egyptian art, where pharaohs prostrated themselves before deities, and resurfaces in medieval Christian art, signifying humility and devotion. Consider the psychological power of such a gesture. Kneeling before a higher power speaks to humanity's innate need for guidance and protection, a subconscious recognition of forces beyond our control. The image touches on something profound within the collective human psyche.