Kardinal André Hercule de Fleury 1667 - 1741

Jakob Christof Le Blon rendered Cardinal André Hercule de Fleury in delicate hues. Notice the Cardinal's red biretta and cape, symbols of his high office within the Catholic Church, proclaiming his status and authority. The color red, with its roots in ancient Rome where it signified power and prestige, appears across centuries in different contexts. The red threads woven into tapestries of medieval Europe marked nobility, while Renaissance painters draped their Madonnas in crimson robes, embodying divine love and sacrifice. Think of the psychological impact of red: passion, vitality, and sometimes, danger. It speaks to a collective memory, stirring deep-seated emotions. This enduring power of symbols reveals the ever-present, cyclical nature of history, their echoes reverberating through time.