Portret van Emmanuel Théodose de la Tour d'Auvergne, kardinaal van Bouillon 1680

Nicolas de Larmessin created this print of Emmanuel Théodose de la Tour d'Auvergne. The cardinal is adorned with symbols of his ecclesiastical and noble status. The prominent Maltese cross hanging from his neck signals membership in a chivalric order, and more profoundly, echoes the cross's ancient roots. Consider the cross's journey: from early Christian symbol of salvation to a heraldic emblem, charged with martial and religious power. In the medieval and Renaissance periods, variations of the cross became linked with specific orders, each imbued with historical and spiritual meaning. The Maltese cross, specifically, with its eight points representing virtues, served as a potent emblem in art and society. Such symbols resonate deeply, their forms and meanings evolving, yet retaining a connection to primal human experiences. The echoes of the cross in diverse cultural contexts remind us that visual symbols are never static; they traverse time, gathering layers of meaning.