Titelprent voor de beschrijving van de intocht van Albrecht en Isabella in Antwerpen, 1599 1600 - 1602

This engraving commemorates the triumphal entry of Albrecht and Isabella into Antwerp in 1599. Dominating the scene are classical deities: Minerva, goddess of wisdom and warfare, stands guard on one side, while Mercury, messenger of the gods and patron of commerce, mirrors her on the other. These figures are not merely decorative. Minerva, with her helmet and spear, echoes the protective spirit of the city, while Mercury, with his caduceus, symbolizes prosperity and diplomacy. We see this echoed through time, for example, in Renaissance Florence, where Medici family frequently used symbolic references to classical antiquity to legitimise their power. The double-headed eagle above, emblem of the Habsburgs, is a motif that stretches back to ancient empires, adapted and adopted across centuries to signify power and dominion. Its recurrence speaks to a deep-seated human desire for order and authority, a psychological need projected onto symbols of governance. These symbols echo through history, shaped by collective memory, and resurface in new forms, imbued with evolving meanings.