Portret van Wolfgang Lazius 1597 - 1599

This engraving portrays Wolfgang Lazius, the historian of the Holy Roman Empire. He is depicted with the tools of his trade: a writing instrument and inkwell, symbols of erudition and the meticulous recording of history. Consider the recurring motif of the scroll, clutched in Lazius's hand. This echoes the classical world, where scrolls signified knowledge and authority. We see this repeated through the ages, from ancient Roman busts holding scrolls, to Renaissance depictions of scholars with similar emblems. The gesture itself, the act of holding this record of knowledge, becomes a potent symbol. The image speaks to our collective memory, evoking the enduring human quest to understand and document our past. It’s a testament to the power of symbols that transcend time, subtly influencing our perception of knowledge and authority. The echo of the classical tradition merges with the burgeoning humanism of the 16th century, showing us how symbols resurface, evolving, and taking on new meanings across the ages.