Coat-of-Arms 1650

Curator: This is an anonymous engraving titled "Coat-of-Arms," currently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. It presents a fascinating heraldic design. Editor: My first impression is one of restrained power. The figures on either side of the crest, though ethereal, seem to ground it. What symbols are prominent here? Curator: We see the figures representing spiritual and temporal authority, alongside cherubic figures holding symbols of status. The crest itself is quite complex. This imagery reflects the hierarchical structures of the time and how power legitimized itself through visual representation. Editor: The cross carried by one figure, the scepter by the other… they're potent symbols. But the anchor, too, suggests stability. Are we meant to consider this a lasting legacy? Curator: Undoubtedly. Heraldry was all about solidifying family lines and projecting an image of enduring influence. This print offered a relatively affordable way to disseminate that image. Editor: It certainly prompts questions about the values and aspirations that were being broadcast. Curator: Exactly. Examining such pieces allows us to understand the social and political theater of its time. Editor: And to think about what legacies we choose to build and remember today.