Saint Amond c. 1621

Editor: This is Jacques Callot’s "Saint Amond," from the 17th century, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels like a story unfolding. What symbols are at play here? Curator: Notice the halo, a universal symbol of holiness and divine grace. It immediately identifies Saint Amond. How does this affect your reading of the surrounding figures? Editor: It positions him as an authority figure, radiating wisdom and power over the attentive crowd. It's interesting that the crowd has soldiers, too. Curator: Indeed. Authority isn't just divine; it's worldly too. Callot’s engraving reminds us that faith and power, then as now, are deeply intertwined, shaping cultural memory. What do you think? Editor: Seeing it that way makes the image even more complex. Thank you. Curator: It's always rewarding to see how symbols resonate across time.