Richelieu for Rhadamanthos 1797 - 1822

J.F. Clemens’s drawing, likely made sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century, depicts the mythological figure Rhadamanthus encountering Cardinal Richelieu. Rhadamanthus, a judge of the underworld, is marked by his staff and the authoritative gesture of his raised hand. Consider how the motif of the raised hand as a gesture of authority, of divine judgment, echoes through art history. We see it in depictions of Christ as Pantocrator in Byzantine mosaics, and later, in secular contexts, as a symbol of power and command in portraits of rulers and statesmen. The gesture carries with it a deep psychological weight, evoking feelings of awe, fear, and submission. Yet, the meaning of such symbols shifts. Rhadamanthus, in the context of Clemens’s work, becomes a figure through which to contemplate justice and authority. This drawing is a reminder of how cultural memory, embedded in symbols, continues to shape our understanding across time.