Portret van kardinaal Juan Pardo de Tavera 1531 - 1599

This engraving portrays Cardinal Juan Pardo de Tavera, rendered by Pedro Angel. The Cardinal's garments denote his high ecclesiastical rank, a visual language understood across Europe. Consider the cross, subtly integrated in the frame. This symbol, central to Christian iconography, extends far beyond its religious origins. We see echoes of it in ancient cosmological diagrams, representing the intersection of the earthly and divine. Over time, its meaning has evolved, branching into emblems of power, sacrifice, and redemption. Think of the swastika, another cross-like symbol, tragically twisted in the 20th century. The weight of such symbols can be felt viscerally. They stir our collective memory, engaging us on a subconscious level. The power and authority emanating from the Cardinal’s image is amplified through these enduring signs, a non-linear progression, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.