Portret van Francesco De Marchi 1775 - 1832

This is Giuseppe Rosaspina’s portrait of Francesco De Marchi, made with etching. The formidable armor worn by De Marchi is not merely protective gear. Look closer, and you will notice on the pauldron the face of a lion. The lion, a symbol of courage and royalty, has traversed millennia, from the sun-baked reliefs of ancient Egypt to the heraldic emblems of medieval Europe. In ancient times, it embodied divine power, often associated with solar deities, before evolving into a representation of earthly rulers. Consider the emotional impact. The lion evokes not only strength but also a primal, instinctual response. It's a connection to our own subconscious, tapping into deeply rooted associations of power and dominance. The presence of the lion here speaks to our primal urges for power and a subconscious desire to identify with this strength. Thus, this symbol's continuous evolution, from the divine to the mortal, demonstrates culture's relentless reshaping of ancient symbols, imbuing them with new layers of meaning, as they resurface throughout history.