Portrait of Don Diego Felix de Esquivel y Aldama 

Bartolomé Estebán Murillo painted this striking portrait of Don Diego Felix de Esquivel y Aldama, capturing the sitter adorned with a prominent red cross. This is the Cross of the Order of Calatrava, a Spanish military order dating back to the 12th century. Originally a symbol of Christian militancy during the Reconquista, it evolved into a prestigious emblem of nobility and honor. The cross's stylized fleur-de-lis tips evoke the cross's roots in medieval chivalry, reminding us of the Crusades and the broader history of religious conflict and assertion. We see similar crosses throughout Europe—from the Teutonic Knights in the Baltic to the Knights Templar—each bearing a unique cultural and historical weight. The persistent re-emergence of these symbols speaks to a deeply rooted human impulse: the desire to forge identity and meaning through collective emblems. This is a powerful force that continues to shape our visual landscape, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level.