Portret van Aluisius de Orello 1681 - 1746

This is a copper engraving of Aluisius de Orello, crafted by François van Bleyswijck. Enclosed in a circle, this portrait is a visual echo of classical Roman portraiture, evoking a sense of timelessness. De Orello's hand-on-hip pose, a gesture of self-assuredness that dates back to antiquity, speaks volumes. We find this very stance mirrored in sculptures of emperors and Renaissance nobles alike. The circle, an emblem of eternity, frames de Orello, suggesting a desire to transcend the ephemeral nature of life. Yet, the inscription, "Ubi Deus meus, ibi patria mea" – "Where my God is, there is my homeland," tells another story, perhaps a longing for spiritual grounding. The circle of eternity clashes with the transient nature of earthly existence, an eternal battle between worldly and religious ideals. This tension engages us on a deep, subconscious level, evoking our own anxieties about belonging, identity, and the search for meaning. The cyclical progression of symbols of eternity, resurfacing across time, constantly reshaped by cultural and emotional currents.