Portret van de architect Jean Rondelet 1822

Here is the story: This engraving portrays Jean Rondelet, the architect, with an emphasis on his membership in the Legion of Honour. The inscription below his image serves as a symbol of status and recognition. This can be traced back to ancient Roman portraiture, where emblems of power and virtue were incorporated into images of notable figures to immortalize and glorify their achievements. However, these symbols evolve. In medieval times, similar emblems often carried religious significance, whereas, by the 18th century, we find them secularized, reflecting Enlightenment values of merit and civic duty. The idealized likeness and the honorific inscription appeal to something deeper. The desire to be remembered and esteemed. This drive, rooted in our collective psyche, transcends time. It manifests differently across eras, yet the core emotion remains, linking us to Rondelet and those who came before, reminding us of our shared human quest for recognition.