Gaspard de Coligny, Admiral of France 1550 - 1591

Jost Amman created this engraving of Gaspard de Coligny, Admiral of France. Amman’s work offers insight into the tumultuous 16th century, marked by religious conflict and political upheaval. Coligny was a prominent Huguenot leader during the French Wars of Religion. The engraving depicts Coligny in armor, a symbol of his military and aristocratic status. Surrounding his portrait are scenes of battle and allegorical figures, referencing the conflict and its broader implications. What does it mean to be a leader in times of division and violence? How does one reconcile personal faith with public duty when the stakes are life and death? The inclusion of female figures as allegorical representations of virtues perhaps suggests the era’s complex relationship with gender roles and power. This engraving serves as both a historical record and a reflection on the human condition amidst conflict. It reminds us of the enduring impact of historical figures like Coligny and the ways in which their stories continue to resonate across generations.