Paus Victor III bevestigt de orde der Kartuizers 1623 - 1676

This engraving by François Chauveau depicts Pope Victor III confirming the Carthusian Order. Note the imposing architecture, reminiscent of classical Roman structures, which symbolizes authority and timelessness. Consider the book on the table in the foreground. Its presence speaks to the dissemination of knowledge, and the written word’s enduring power. We see similar presentations of books in many other eras. The act of presenting a book can be found on Roman Sarcophagi as gestures of civic duty. What echoes through the centuries is the book's symbolic weight: wisdom, legacy, and the perpetuation of tradition. The subconscious draws us to these images, to the promise of knowledge, and how that can be used to affirm sacred institutions. Thus, the image demonstrates the cyclical, resurfacing nature of symbols, and how they evolve while retaining deep cultural and psychological resonance across different epochs.