Saint Rupertus 1516 - 1518

This woodcut, crafted by Leonhard Beck, depicts Saint Rupertus, Salzburg's patron saint, adorned with symbols of power and divine favor. Rupertus stands crowned, wielding a scepter, while an angel above presents him with a sword, a symbol of divine authority and justice. Consider the sword – an emblem of power, it also appears across cultures, from ancient Roman military triumphs to medieval Christian allegories of virtue. The iconography of the sword here transcends mere earthly authority. Notice how it also resonates with a deeper psychological need for protection, leadership, and the establishment of order. The cyclical progression of the saint as a symbol and the sword as an instrument of divine will, reminds us of the past and present and of the human desire for a higher power.