Portret van abt Peregrinus Carlenus 1648

Paulus Pontius created this portrait of Abbot Peregrinus Carlenus. Dominating the image are symbols of authority, the Abbot’s coat-of-arms and clerical attire. These are not merely decorative; they are potent emblems of institutional power. The coat-of-arms, repeated above and below the figure, anchors the Abbot within a lineage, a history stretching back through generations. The winged cherubs evoke classical antiquity, and the inscription around the frame, “There is no true freedom except in peace,” speaks to the Abbot’s diplomatic role. Consider, though, how such symbols have appeared across time. Similar crests, like the Medici’s, were once tokens of civic pride, but now, they often feel like relics of a bygone era. This shift in meaning, from vital emblem to historical artifact, reveals how cultural memory shapes our perception. Here, these symbols speak to our collective psyche, reminding us of the church's enduring, though evolving, influence. It engages us on a deep, subconscious level. The non-linear progression of these symbols—their resurfacing, evolution, and new meanings—illustrates how history continually reshapes our understanding of power and identity.