Portret van Laurenzo Brancati di Lauria 1681 - 1698

Jacques Blondeau engraved this portrait of Lorenzo Brancati di Lauria, a cardinal, in the late 17th century. Above him we see two coats of arms, visual testaments of power and lineage. On the left is the papal symbol; the keys to the kingdom of Heaven, emblems of spiritual authority. Now, consider how gestures and symbols migrate through time. In ancient Rome, the raised hand signified power and authority. Here, though not overtly depicted, the cardinal’s position and vestments imply a blessing, a transference of grace. This gesture, echoed through religious art across centuries, reminds us of the continuity of human expression and belief. The face of the cardinal, rendered with a solemn gravity, evokes a profound sense of introspection. This is not merely a likeness but an evocation of inner life, a visual echo of the spiritual weight he carries. Just as the ancients sought to capture the 'pathos formula'—the essential expression of emotion—Blondeau captures something of the cardinal's soul. This image is a resurgence, an adaptation, imbued with new significance for a new age.