De Heilige Severus 1616 - 1624

Gerard ter Borch the Elder created this drawing of Saint Severus with pen and brush in the 17th century. The saint, likely Severus of Ravenna, is adorned in the garb of a bishop, complete with a mitre and ornate cloak. But, the object in his hand is of particular interest: a toothed instrument. While unconventional, this is a thurible, traditionally a vessel for burning incense. Its unique form is intriguing, drawing from the ancient Roman practice of using similar tools to comb wool. In Christian iconography, incense symbolizes prayer and purification, but here, the thurible bridges pagan and Christian worlds, illustrating how religious symbols adopt and adapt pre-existing forms. This image, therefore, is a powerful reminder of humanity's need to imbue objects with spiritual meaning, echoing through history and persisting into our own time.