Sibylle Cimmérienne 1630 - 1640

This print, Sibylle Cimmérienne, was made by Gilles Rousselet sometime in the 17th century. It depicts the Cumaean Sibyl, a priestess who, in Roman legend, prophesied the coming of Christ. The print, made in France, participates in a broader cultural trend of aligning classical antiquity with Christian belief. By associating the sibyl with the Virgin Mary, the image creates a symbolic bridge between pagan and Christian worlds. This was a common trope in the art of the time, especially within royal and religious institutions eager to legitimize their power through historical and divine connections. The inscription at the bottom further reinforces this idea, suggesting that the Sibyl's prophecies foretold the coming of a divinely appointed monarch, namely Louis XIV, or one of his successors. For historians, researching the cultural and political context of 17th-century France can reveal the social function of art in constructing and reinforcing power structures.