Cornelius Janssen c. 17th century

Curator: Immediately, there's a sense of gravitas—that severe profile and intense gaze are quite commanding. Editor: Indeed. This is Jean Morin’s portrait of Cornelius Jansen, the controversial Bishop of Ypres. Morin, active in the first half of the 17th century, captured the theologian in meticulously engraved lines. Curator: The octagonal frame is fascinating. The inscription surrounding Jansen features the phrase "In Veritate et Charitate", truth and charity, framing him as a figure of piety. Editor: But truth and charity were certainly contested terms in Jansen's era. The weight of his theological disputes is subtly present. The somberness speaks volumes about the conflicts of his time. Curator: It’s a powerful reminder of how visual representation and religious politics could become deeply entwined. Editor: Absolutely. And how lasting those visual symbols remain in cultural memory.