Aankomst van Maria de' Medici in Delft 1639

This print captures Maria de' Medici's arrival in Delft, with a spectacle of light breaking through the clouds to illuminate the city. This isn't just sunlight; it's divine approval, a visual language that echoes throughout history. Consider, for example, the *Adoration of the Magi,* where a star guides the three kings. The star has roots in ancient astrology, but also embodies divine knowledge. Here, these radiant beams carry the same weight, casting Maria as a figure of destiny. This symbolic use of light recurs in the Baroque period, but also much earlier in ancient Roman art, in which emperors and their families are depicted in similar fashion. In both, the theatrical use of light suggests a psychological desire for reassurance and the promise of a new beginning. Even in modern times, light, as a symbol, retains this magnetic pull. The continuous reappearance of this motif highlights our shared human impulse to find meaning in visual symbols.