College van Anchin 1605 - 1680

This engraving by Filippo Ferrari depicts the College van Anchin. Dominating the scene, we find the radiant monogram "IHS," a symbol of the Holy Name of Jesus, bathed in divine light. This echoes across time, resonating with earlier sun symbols representing Apollo or the Egyptian Ra, yet now infused with Christian theology. But observe how this emblem has evolved. Once a symbol of pagan authority, the sun now illuminates Christian virtue, a transformation reflecting humanity’s shifting spiritual focus. This appropriation isn't merely artistic; it reveals our collective subconscious, the primal yearning for illumination now channeled through religious expression. The buildings evoke emotions of awe and reverence. The architectural composition, with its soaring towers, speaks to an eternal quest for knowledge, both earthly and divine.