Portret van een onbekende abt 1764 - 1791

This is Mathias de Sallieth's etching of an unknown abbot, crafted in the late 18th century. Our eyes are drawn to the cross hanging over the abbot’s chest, a symbol deeply rooted in Christian iconography. The cross has traversed millennia, evolving from a symbol of sacrifice to one of redemption and faith. Think of the ancient ankh in Egyptian art, a symbol of life, or the Roman labarum, adapted by Constantine—both predecessors, perhaps, in the subconscious language of symbols of faith. Even in the modern era, artists and movements have reinterpreted the cross, imbuing it with new layers of meaning, sometimes challenging, sometimes reinforcing its powerful emotional resonance. Ultimately, the abbot's cross here becomes more than a mere religious emblem; it is a potent symbol of faith, and it engages us on a deeply human level, prompting us to contemplate the enduring power of belief and the cyclical nature of symbols throughout history.