Portret van Jacobus Koning 1796 - 1850

Jean Augustin Daiwaille rendered this sensitive portrait of Jacobus Koning with pen in gray and brush in watercolor. Note the sitter’s eyeglasses, a relatively modern invention that carries a rich symbolic weight. In Daiwaille’s era, spectacles signified not only intellect but also a certain level of social status and access to knowledge. But let us look further back to its origin. Consider the Roman philosopher Seneca, who perhaps strained his eyes reading scrolls by candlelight. The evolution of corrective lenses is more than just a technological advancement; it reflects our enduring quest to perceive and comprehend the world around us. Like an alchemist searching for the philosopher's stone, spectacles promised clarity of vision and insight. Here, the eyeglasses are more than just a tool; they symbolize our timeless pursuit of knowledge. Just as images migrate through time, adapting and evolving, the symbol of the eyeglass remains a potent reminder of our unending quest for understanding.