Saint Francis de Sales (canonized 1665) 1600 - 1700

This drawing depicts Saint Francis de Sales writing, observed by angels. Note how an angel presents a framed image of the Virgin Mary. This image, with Mary seated on a crescent moon, evokes the ancient goddess Diana. This conflation of pagan and Christian iconography is not unusual. Think of Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" - a clear echo of classical ideals reborn in a Christian context. Such appropriations reveal the endurance of archetypes, of ancient symbols that persist in our collective memory. The subconscious appeal of these symbols creates a powerful effect on the viewer, regardless of their origin, and continues to find new expression. The image of Mary, like Venus, taps into a deep-seated yearning for beauty, love, and the maternal archetype. It is an example of how symbols, like migratory birds, appear, disappear, and reappear across cultural landscapes, always transformed yet forever recognizable.