Ontwerp voor borduurwerk met de evangelist Marcus

This is a design for embroidery with the evangelist Mark by Hardman & Co. Here, we see Saint Mark represented by a winged lion, its halo signifying holiness. The lion, traditionally a symbol of strength and royalty, is an ancient association, appearing in various forms across cultures. Consider its presence in heraldry or ancient mythology. The winged lion motif stretches back to antiquity. We find such hybrid creatures guarding temples in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. The symbolic blend speaks to a deeper psychological need to synthesize the earthly with the divine, the rational with the instinctual. Over time, the winged lion resurfaces in medieval art as a Christian symbol, often with the evangelist Mark, embodying his gospel's themes of resurrection and kingship. This symbol reflects a profound, archetypal drive to reconcile human and animal natures. The lion's roar becomes the Word, and its wings, spiritual transcendence. Ultimately, this image, like many, is a palimpsest—a canvas on which cultural memory continually rewrites itself, each layer enriching our understanding.