Portret van François Mallier du Houssay 1666

Jacques Grignon rendered this portrait of François Mallier du Houssay in print. Our eyes are drawn to the cross suspended from his neck, a symbol of faith and authority within the Catholic Church. The cross as a motif is far from static. Consider its presence in early Christian catacombs, a simple intersection of lines, a coded message of belief amidst persecution. Later, it rises, gilded and grand, atop cathedrals, a declaration of power and dominance. Even today, the cross appears in countless forms, each iteration reflecting the evolving relationship between humanity and the divine. The symbol of the cross transcends its religious origins and resonates deeply, touching on the primal fears of death and the universal longing for salvation. This interplay between the conscious symbol and its subconscious echoes is powerful, engaging viewers on a profound level. Like an ancient melody, the cross resurfaces, each time colored by the context of its reappearance, bearing witness to the ever-shifting tides of human history and belief.