Frontispiece to Les Gardes Françaises 1632

Abraham Bosse etched this frontispiece to “Les Gardes Françaises,” where two guards frame an empty space under an elaborate arch. Above, we see the fleur-de-lis, emblem of French royalty, flanked by classical figures. This symbol, deeply rooted in French identity, evokes power and divine right. Yet, it is not unique. In earlier times, similar floral emblems appeared in ancient heraldry and religious iconography, signifying purity, perfection, and spiritual authority. Consider the act of framing itself; it is an attempt to contain, to give order to chaos. The two guards, in their posed readiness, embody control. The presence of smoke and a discharged firearm creates a visual tension, hinting at underlying threats to the very order the guards are employed to maintain. Thus, through symbols and carefully constructed scenes, Bosse speaks to us across time, reminding us that symbols endure, reborn in new contexts, carrying the weight of history and the echoes of our collective past.