Madonna of the Rose, she reaches for a rose held by the Christ child, who rests his left arm on a globe 1560 - 1575

This is Domenico Tibaldi's "Madonna of the Rose," made with engraving. Here, the Virgin reaches for a rose held by the Christ child, who rests his left arm on a globe. The rose, a symbol of love and beauty, is here offered by Christ, alluding to his sacrifice and divine love. The globe under Christ’s arm signifies his dominion over the world, a motif echoing antique depictions of emperors holding orbs to symbolize power. This gesture, charged with authority, resonates through centuries. This echoes in Renaissance paintings where similar gestures reflect temporal power, yet here it’s infused with spiritual weight. Such symbols weave a non-linear narrative, continually resurfacing in various guises, subtly altered by time and cultural context, reminding us that images carry their own history, speaking to our collective memory.