Seal Detail

A large brass seal dating presumably to the 19th century, of roughly oval form and without the handle or attachment on the reverse, the obverse intricately engraved with central imagery depicting the Day of Pentecost, when Mary (seated centrally) and the disciples were in prayer in the upper room awaiting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The seal appears to show them talking-as they did- in tongues, as indicated by the cloven tongues above them. Above Mary, descends the Holy Spirit indicated by a  large bird descending. The outer inscription within a lined border reads:

SIGIL. MAIUS*VNIV.DVACI.*VBI.VVLT*SPIRAT.IOA.3

(The Great Seal of the University of Douai: [the Spirit] bloweth where it will. Ioa[nnis] 3)

The imagery is based upon Acts 1, v14, and 2,vv.1-4, but the unusual legend on St John 3, v.8, which reads in the Latin Vulgate: " Spiritus ubi vult spirat", in the Authorised Version as "the wind bloweth where it listeth", and in the Revised Standard Version as "the wind blows where it wills".

The University was founded in 1652 and transfered to Lille in 1887. G. Demay describes a much smaller seal of the University of different legend, and dating from its foundation. So this perhaps can be called the second seal.

Seal Specification

Height:  2mm

Diameter of matrix:  52mm x 72mm

Weight:  49g