François Rouxel de Medavy, Archbishop of Rouen 1677

This engraving by Antoine Masson depicts François Rouxel de Medavy, Archbishop of Rouen. The cross, prominently displayed, speaks of Christian faith, yet its form carries echoes of ancient symbols predating Christianity itself. Consider the Ankh of ancient Egypt, a symbol of life, or even the simple intersection found in early cosmological diagrams representing the meeting of the earthly and divine. This motif transcends time and place. Its persistent recurrence is driven by an underlying human need to connect with the eternal. The cross in Masson’s engraving, while overtly Christian, resonates with these earlier forms, tapping into a deep reservoir of collective memory. It acts as a powerful symbol of sacrifice and redemption, engaging the viewer on a subconscious level. The motif has resurfaced and evolved, taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.