Drie kardinalen worden door de paus tot poortwachters benoemd 1769 - 1805

Curator: Welcome to the Rijksmuseum. We are now standing before Jan Evert Grave’s engraving, made between 1769 and 1805, titled “Drie kardinalen worden door de paus tot poortwachters benoemd,” or “Three Cardinals Appointed Gatekeepers by the Pope.” Editor: My initial impression is one of structured formality. The geometric tiles, the precise lines of the architecture, and the regimented figures all speak to a controlled and hierarchical world. Curator: Absolutely. Grave's focus on perspective and spatial relationships lends itself to an academic interpretation, highlighting the power dynamics and institutional weight inherent in the scene. Note the carefully considered placement of figures, almost mathematically precise. Editor: I’m drawn to the symbolism within. The Pope enthroned signifies spiritual authority, while the cardinals kneeling before him embody humility and submission. The keys being presented – surely symbolic of the "gates" referenced in the Dutch title, connecting back to sacred entry and spiritual access. Curator: The lines certainly direct the eye towards the enthroned figure, as you said highlighting papal authority. And, formally speaking, it adheres to many Baroque conventions – dramatic lighting and dynamic composition for sure. But it does stop short from what I think of as truly moving away from those techniques toward something different. Editor: And what of those doors then? The literal translation refers to them as ‘holy doors’ that the Cardinals will oversee, marking spaces and beliefs which for a believing 18th century viewer, I'm sure had very profound meaning. It's all about marking access and inclusion, really. Who's allowed into this ‘sacred’ domain, and who is barred. Grave uses these kinds of symbols so elegantly. Curator: Perhaps this use of linear clarity within the picture allows him, as the engraver, to really drive this symbolism home. Editor: This carefulness speaks volumes— not just about technique, but about the values the scene portrays. I suppose the genius of it is that so much spiritual significance is portrayed in such precise rendering, offering viewers an insight into faith in eighteenth century Rome. Curator: It does, it uses the inherent properties of engraving to offer spiritual reflection. A thoughtful take. Editor: Indeed. It's amazing how much meaning can be conveyed through structured forms and carefully placed symbolic details.