Ménestrier on Emblems in the Context of “Erudite Images” and His Wider “Philosophy of Images”

Abstract

This paper shows how Ménestrier’s theorizing on emblems developed from his practice as devisor of decorative schemes and festivals, as indeed did that of fellow Jesuits. It explains his concern for developing a theoretical framework (whereas fellow Jesuits usually published collections of emblems with little theory) in terms of the influence exerted by his Jesuit training in Aristotelian philosophy and Thomist theology and the example set by the (ex-)Jesuit theorist Emanuele Tesauro. It puts Ménestrier’s theory and practice of emblems within the context of his more general concern for “erudite,” or symbolic, images and how he conceived such images, in general, operate on humans. In conclusion, I suggest how this understanding of such images’ potential within the context of Catholic renewal affects how Ménestrier understands the purpose and creation of emblems. This article is part of the special issue of the Journal of Jesuit Studies on Jesuit emblems and emblematic edited by Walter S. Melion.