Vijftiende eeuw 1667 - 1672

This anonymous engraving, dating back to the fifteenth century, presents a figure adorned with scenes illustrating ‘The 100 Year Papist’. Dominating the composition is the central figure wearing a papal tiara, symbolizing spiritual authority. Encircling and embedded within the figure are numerous vignettes depicting various events and figures, each numbered, creating a tapestry of historical and religious narrative. The ‘Ages of Man’ is an ancient motif seen in many cultures throughout history. We can see it reappear, for example, in a Roman mosaic illustrating the personifications of the seasons of the year, or as a continuous narrative in medieval tapestries showing the Ages of the World according to Christian belief. The cyclical nature of these images is also evident in astrological charts that mirror the circular format of this engraving. As you gaze at the central figure, consider the layers of history and cultural memory embedded within it; the timeless human tendency to mark time, to remember, and to remind ourselves of where we come from.