The Death of Saint Hilary; verso: Sketch of an Arm 1515 - 1562

Jan van Scorel rendered this drawing of the Death of Saint Hilary with pen and brown ink, and gray wash. At the death of Saint Hilary, we notice the ever-present motif of the crucifix held aloft as a beacon between earthly suffering and divine salvation. The crucifix, ubiquitous across centuries, echoes the very essence of sacrifice and redemption. Consider its presence in ancient reliquaries and modern pendants— a symbol that has traversed epochs, bearing witness to humanity's unwavering quest for meaning. Its presence in art, from the catacombs to contemporary installations, marks a continuous narrative of faith and doubt, forever imprinted in our collective consciousness. The symbol evolves, yet its core remains.