Portret van medicus Giacomo Tommasini 1816 - 1862

Roberto Focosi's portrait of Giacomo Tommasini presents us with a man framed by potent symbols. Note the serpent entwined around a staff on the right of the frame, a clear nod to the Rod of Asclepius. This ancient symbol of healing and medicine, linked to the Greek god of healing, is not merely a professional emblem here. It echoes through the ages, appearing in various forms from ancient Near Eastern traditions to modern-day medical institutions, carrying with it a collective memory of hope, cure, and the human desire to overcome illness. Consider how the same symbol has been reinterpreted across cultures—sometimes with one snake, sometimes two, occasionally with a cup—each variation subtly shifting its meaning yet retaining its core essence. This continuous reshaping highlights our persistent, almost subconscious, engagement with symbols of health and well-being. It embodies a timeless, cyclical pattern of cultural inheritance and reinvention.