Plate 1: Saturn; statue of the nude god standing on a socle, holding a scythe in his right hand and a child in his left; from 'Statues of Roman Gods' after Jacques Jonghelinck 1586

Philips Galle created this print of a statue of Saturn in 1586. Galle was working during a time of great religious and political upheaval in Europe. The Protestant Reformation had challenged the authority of the Catholic Church, and there was a renewed interest in classical antiquity, which this image reflects. The statue depicts a nude, muscular Saturn holding a scythe in one hand and a child in the other, a reference to the Roman God Saturn who consumed his children to prevent them from usurping him. This imagery might also be understood in the context of 16th-century anxieties about power and succession. The male body is idealized and powerful, but the act of infanticide speaks to themes of cruelty and desperation. The decision to depict a nude male God is rooted in classical tradition, but may also express certain gendered and power dynamics. The image is both an assertion of power and a commentary on its potential for abuse. It encourages a dialogue between traditional representations and alternative narratives, inviting viewers to consider the complex interplay between power, gender, and morality.