Heilige Vincentius a Paulo 1814 - 1843

This print by Jean Pierre Larcher depicts Saint Vincent de Paul carrying a child, rendered with fine lines. This single gesture carries echoes of the Good Shepherd, an allegorical symbol of care in the catacombs and beyond, where Christ carries a lamb. Here, this motif of the caregiver speaks to the saint's dedication to the poor. Yet, the tenderness expressed here finds earlier articulation in images of classical antiquity. Consider the statue of Hermes carrying the infant Dionysus: the protector assumes responsibility for the next stage of life. This iconography of care is not static. The meaning of this motif is continuously renegotiated over time. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts. Like memories, symbols engage with viewers on a deep, subconscious level, evoking emotional and psychological responses that transcend eras.