Titelpagina voor Aurora, Den Haag 1840-1878 1840 - 1878

Jan Baptist Tetar van Elven created this frontispiece for Aurora in The Hague between 1840 and 1878. Here, the winged goddess Aurora emerges from a star-filled sky, surrounded by putti. Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn, embodies the perennial hope of renewal. Her presence here is no isolated event; it echoes across time, recalling similar depictions in Renaissance paintings where dawn is a symbol of enlightenment. The putti surrounding her, cherubic figures, are reminiscent of the classical motif of accompanying deities, a motif that has transformed over centuries, from pagan gods to Christian angels. Note the star she holds aloft; it’s an emblem of guidance, of new beginnings, a visual echo of the Star of Bethlehem, guiding seekers. This image captures a deep, psychological yearning for hope and guidance, speaking to the collective human desire for light in darkness. This symbol of light has traversed epochs, resurfacing in various guises, constantly renewing its relevance.