Portret van Florentius Costerus 1708 - 1780

Jacob Houbraken etched this portrait of Florentius Costerus. Notice Costerus’s hands: one open, palm up, a gesture of offering or explanation, the other poised as if in mid-speech. Throughout history, such gestures have signified rhetoric and intellectual prowess. Think of Roman orators, their hands animated, commanding attention, or consider the hand gestures of Renaissance philosophers, captured in countless paintings, symbolizing knowledge and discourse. This motif echoes through time, appearing in religious art as well, where open hands denote blessing or divine intervention. Yet, the meaning subtly shifts. In Costerus’s portrait, the gesture speaks to a quieter authority, an intellectual generosity. It reveals the enduring human need to communicate, to impart wisdom, and to connect through the language of the body. This motif has adapted to suit different eras, reflecting the evolution of communication itself. It reminds us that beneath the surface, we are all part of a continuous narrative.