Coat-of-Arms of Lezay 1640

Curator: Here we have an anonymous engraving, "Coat-of-Arms of Lezay," housed here at Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The composition has a curious balance of heraldic rigidity and almost playful ornamentation. The mermaid figures give it a whimsical quality. Curator: These arms likely represented a family's aspirations and social standing. Coats of arms were, after all, carefully constructed public statements. Editor: I am struck by the meticulous cross-hatching in the crest's swirling foliage. The artist has used line variation to great effect in the figure above, evoking movement. Curator: Indeed, the iconography would be meticulously researched and laden with significance for the intended audience. The mermaids, for example, might represent maritime connections or regional identity. Editor: The tension between the static shield and dynamic figures around it creates a visual push-pull, doesn't it? Curator: Yes, and the work as a whole provides a unique window into the cultural and representational practices of its time. Editor: It certainly makes one ponder the personal narratives embedded within these formal artistic conventions.