Schild met de Heilige Geest 1608 - 1688

Claude Mellan created this print, ‘Shield with the Holy Spirit,’ in France in the seventeenth century using engraving. The image depicts a shield bearing the inscription 'The defense of the chief of the Order of the Holy Spirit'. The Order of the Holy Spirit was the most prestigious chivalric order in France, founded in 1578 by King Henry III. As such, this print embodies the deeply intertwined relationship between religious and secular power in early modern Europe. The shield, a traditional symbol of defense and authority, combined with the dove representing the Holy Spirit, reinforces the divine right of the monarchy, in this case the Bourbon Dynasty. The fleur-de-lis, another emblem of French royalty, further emphasizes this connection. To fully understand this print, we might consult historical records detailing the rituals and membership of the Order, as well as visual sources documenting the symbols of French royalty. Through this type of research, we can begin to appreciate the ways in which art served to reinforce social hierarchies and political power.