Portret van Charles-Maurice le Tellier, abt van Lagny 1664 - 1667

Pieter van Schuppen rendered this portrait of Charles-Maurice le Tellier, abbot of Lagny, in print. The most prominent visual elements are Le Tellier's somber attire, and the coat of arms, symbols of religious authority and noble lineage. The mitre and crozier on the coat of arms echo symbols found in medieval reliquaries and papal insignia, emblems of spiritual power and divine sanction. Consider how, across centuries, these symbols resurface—an echo of authority from Byzantine mosaics to Renaissance portraits of cardinals. There is a psychological weight in the consistent reuse of these visual markers. Each iteration taps into a collective memory, reinforcing the concept of unbroken power passed down through history. It’s a visual language that engages viewers, triggering deep-seated responses to authority and tradition. Note how the meaning of these symbols shifts; once purely religious, now emblems of cultural heritage and historical continuity. These symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in each age.