Joan of Arc Standing at the Altar at Reims Cathedral c. 1844

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres sketched Joan of Arc standing at the altar at Reims Cathedral, a testament to French nationalism. Joan, in full armor, stands before the altar, grasping a standard—a powerful emblem of faith and conviction. Her armor is reminiscent of classical sculptures, yet its significance is in the role of a female warrior in medieval Europe. She stands as a beacon, a warrior, and a saint all in one. This fusion of roles echoes through time; consider the ancient goddesses of war, such as Athena, or even the mythical Amazons. The gesture of Joan holding the standard is a recurring motif across cultures, symbolizing leadership and defiance. Think of the Roman emperors with their scepters, or even revolutionaries holding flags high. These symbols tap into collective memory, stirring subconscious associations of power, authority, and righteous conviction. Joan of Arc, then, becomes more than a historical figure; she is an embodiment of universal ideals, perpetually resurrected and reimagined in the theater of human history.