Jean-Ferdinand van Beughem, bisschop van Antwerpen 1687

Editor: This medal, created in 1687 by Philippe Roëttiers, portrays Jean-Ferdinand van Beughem, Bishop of Antwerp. It seems straightforward—almost bureaucratic in its depiction of status and power. What else can we uncover in this seemingly simple relief? Curator: The portrait on one side and the heraldic shield on the other act as visual anchors to a complex network of social and religious authority. How does this pairing make you feel? Editor: It feels very calculated. Almost as if identity is tied to your social rank, and this piece exists only to prove your power and family ties. Curator: Indeed. It is calculated, yet consider that heraldry wasn’t merely about showing off lineage. Each symbol within the coat of arms -- its colors, creatures, and shapes-- encodes history, alliances, and specific qualities associated with the family. It is cultural memory, concentrated in an image. Editor: So, reading the shield is like reading a historical document in symbolic form? Curator: Precisely. And note how the bishop's vestments also function symbolically, connecting him to a lineage of religious authority that transcends his individual life. Each garment, each detail, speaks volumes to those initiated in the visual language. What does this connection evoke in you? Editor: A sense of immense responsibility. Both for the person and their lineage, whatever it may be. There is cultural weight attached. Curator: Exactly! The symbols remind us how images create an emotional bridge to the past. The medal isn't just an object; it’s a keeper of collective memories. Editor: I now see how seemingly straightforward symbols can hold layers of meaning about cultural continuity. Thanks!