Magnanamitas 1557

Editor: This small print, "Magnanamitas," by Hans Collaert the Elder, feels almost like a playing card, with this regal figure and her lion companion. What do you make of her serene expression and grand stature? Curator: Ah, Magnanimity! I see Collaert's work as a quiet invitation. She's a queen alright, but not one of boastful splendor. See how she clasps her hands, almost meditatively? The lion at her side isn't there to threaten, but to embody her inner strength. Editor: So it's not about outward power, but this internal…steadfastness? Curator: Precisely! Magnanimity is about having a great soul, capable of both great compassion and great courage. It's about finding the noble in the mundane. Editor: I guess I expected something flashier, but the subtlety is much more powerful. Curator: Indeed! It makes you wonder where you can find the great within yourself.