Six Roundel Patterns for a Goldsmith: the Coronation of the Virgin, God the Father with the Body of Christ, St. Eustace or St. Hubert, the Conversion of St. Paul, Charlemagne and St. Helen, and St. Elizabeth 1450 - 1505

This engraving by Israhel van Meckenem offers six roundel patterns for a goldsmith. Dominant is the religious symbolism: the Coronation of the Virgin, God the Father with Christ, and various saints. These symbols were not merely decorative; they were potent reminders of faith and morality in the Northern Renaissance. Consider St. Paul’s conversion. Here, he is shown falling from his horse, an image echoing classical depictions of fallen warriors. The motif of a sudden, life-altering fall reappears across cultures, representing moments of profound revelation or crisis. The goldsmith's patterns, intended for personal adornment, thus become carriers of deep cultural memory, revealing the timeless human need to imbue objects with spiritual significance. These aren't just designs; they are echoes of collective experience, resurfacing through time.