Resumen de "Je he ce que mord." Die Bedeutung von Motto und Emblem auf einem Rogier van der Weyden zugeschriebenen Porträt
The writer considers the significance of a motto and emblem on a portrait of a man, attributed to Rogier van der Weyden, now at London's Courtauld Institute Gallery. The emblem, a holly branch, is painted on the back of the portrait. The motto, “Je he ce que mord,” is on the bottom edge of the frame, also on the reverse side. The writer suggests that the motto (translated as “I hate what bites”) refers to the holly's wish not to be eaten, and that the portrayed man chose the holly with its defensive thorns as a symbol of his ability to defend himself and of his will to survive.
