Aanstelling van George Louis Graaf van Berges tot prins-bisschop van Luik, 1724 1724 - 1727

This engraving by Leonard Schenk captures the installation of George Louis, Count of Bergen, as Prince-Bishop of Liège in 1724. Dominating the scene is the enthroned figure of George Louis, adorned in the regalia of his new ecclesiastical office, including the mitre and crozier – potent symbols of spiritual authority and leadership. The Bishop’s crozier, a staff with a curved or hooked head, evolved from the shepherd's crook and became emblematic of a bishop's pastoral role, guiding and protecting their flock. We see echoes of this motif in ancient Egyptian art, where the crook symbolized pharaonic power. This motif has been transformed and reinterpreted, yet its underlying message of authority remains. The imagery evokes a sense of continuity. The solemnity of the occasion, the weight of tradition, and the transfer of power engage viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The past resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.