Portret van de abt Dominique de Ligny 1658

This is Pieter van Schuppen’s portrait of Abbot Dominique de Ligny, made around 1648, immortalized through engraving. The Abbot is framed by an oval wreath of oak leaves. In antiquity, the oak leaf was a symbol of strength, endurance, and virtue, often associated with Zeus or Jupiter, king of the gods. Consider how the oak leaf reappears across cultures, from ancient Greece to Rome, and later in Christian iconography, often adorning rulers and heroes, signifying divine favor and moral authority. Here, the oak wreath conveys the Abbot's spiritual strength and moral virtue but it is subtly subverted. The leaves’ cyclical arrangement suggests the inevitable passage of time and the ephemeral nature of human life, hinting that even figures of great authority are subject to the relentless march of history. Like the ouroboros, this symbol presents a non-linear, cyclical progression resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings across different historical contexts. It appeals to something deep within our collective memory, the idea of continuous rebirth and transformation.