Paus Gregorius en Maria met kind 1721 - 1779

Jan Punt created this image of Pope Gregory and the Virgin with Child using etching, sometime in the 18th century. Note the dove hovering above Gregory. From antiquity, the dove has represented the soul, and in Christian art, the Holy Spirit. Here, it signifies divine inspiration, essential for a Pope. Gregory stares intently at the Virgin and Child, who float on clouds. The maternal embrace is a universal motif, evoking feelings of protection and love. Yet, this image is not merely sentimental. The Virgin as protector has roots in ancient goddesses such as Isis, whose iconography similarly emphasizes maternal care. Over time, the protective aspect was transferred to the Virgin Mary. This conveyance and transformation of symbols show how powerful archetypes persist, tapping into our collective memory and offering solace across centuries. These visual motifs have resurfaced, evolved, and assumed new meanings in varied historical contexts.