Elisabeth Thott og scene med Jairi datters opvækkelse 1656

Hans Andreas Greys created this print, "Elisabeth Thott og scene med Jairi datters opvækkelse," sometime in the mid-17th century. At first glance, the composition is strikingly divided into two distinct halves. On the left, a portrait bust of Elisabeth Thott is surrounded by allegorical figures, while the right features a biblical scene framed by an architectural structure. The rigorous symmetry and balanced arrangement of elements speak to a desire for order. Look at how the artist uses framing devices like the oval around the portrait and the arch around the biblical scene to create self-contained spaces. These divisions, however, may point to a deeper theme: the separation between earthly life and spiritual narrative. The allegorical figures of Pietas and Prudentia suggest moral virtues, and the scene of Jairus' daughter being raised from the dead offers a message of hope. Ultimately, the print invites us to contemplate the complex interplay between portraiture, religious narrative, and allegorical symbolism.