St. Germain l’Auxerrois 1867

Claude Monet painted "St. Germain l’Auxerrois" with oil on canvas, capturing the church and bustling square in Paris. The rose window, prominently featured, echoes the medieval fascination with light as a divine manifestation. The rose motif, a radiant bloom of stone and glass, isn’t confined to this Parisian church. We find its roots reaching back to ancient sun symbols, like the rosettes in Mesopotamian art, each radiating a solar energy, promising renewal. Over time, the sun-wheel transformed, assimilated into Christian iconography, symbolizing not just divine light but the Virgin Mary. Consider the mandala, its circular form embodying the cosmos. Like the rose window, it guides the eye to its center, prompting contemplation. These symbolic circles, whether in the East or West, speak to our collective need for order. They represent the eternal return, resonating deeply within us, evoking a sense of cosmic harmony.