Woman with Text Panel 1540 - 1570

Lambert Sustris painted this panel with oil on wood around the mid-16th century. At its center, we see a partially draped woman holding a text panel. This motif of a woman holding tablets hearkens back to classical antiquity. The tablet she holds reminds us of ancient Roman depictions of Sibyls, or oracles, women believed to possess prophetic abilities and convey divine knowledge. In ancient times, knowledge was inscribed on tablets, and later, books. Think of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on stone tablets, images of which later found their way into illuminated manuscripts and Renaissance paintings. The presence of text, especially when held by a female figure, also brings to mind the powerful symbolism of knowledge and wisdom embodied in the female form. Knowledge, the ability to read and write, was long considered the domain of the elite, a privilege and a symbol of power. The motif of the Sibyl is a testament to our enduring fascination with the power of the written word, a power that transcends time and continues to engage our subconscious on a profound level.