The Prophet Elisha, from Prophets and Sibyls 1480 - 1490

Francesco Rosselli's engraving portrays the Prophet Elisha, adorned with a turban, seated with a scroll bearing his name. In his hands, he holds an open book, symbolizing knowledge and divine wisdom. The book, a repository of ancient knowledge, transcends its physical form to become a symbol of enlightenment, recurring in various guises throughout the history of art and thought. Consider the motif of the open book in illuminated manuscripts of the medieval era, where sacred texts are illuminated with intricate designs, meant to inspire piety and reverence. The act of reading in these contexts becomes a performative gesture, linking the individual to a broader tradition. Over time, this symbol, laden with cultural memory, has resurfaced in diverse contexts, each imbuing it with new layers of meaning, yet always echoing the profound connection between knowledge, power, and the human psyche.