Cronica Cronicarum (...), blad 4 verso Possibly 1521 - 1529

This is a page from the "Cronica Cronicarum," a historical chronicle printed in the late 15th century, illustrating a lineage through portraits and cityscapes. It is a dense tableau teeming with images and text. Here, the portraits of historical figures are encircled, seemingly connected through an invisible genealogy. In another section, we see a cityscape, the city rendered as a teeming center of human activity. Such illustrations were not mere depictions; they were imbued with symbolic weight. Consider the scepter: a symbol of power and authority, its image echoes through time, from ancient rulers to modern leaders, each holding this emblem of command, yet transforming its significance with every portrayal. The arrangement and depiction of people is a potent force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The past isn't linear; it's a cyclical progression, constantly resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.