Hercules en personificatie van Geschiedenis 1651

This engraving by Pieter de Jode the Younger presents us with Hercules and a personification of History, surrounded by potent symbols. Note the figure of Hercules, a symbol of strength, leaning against a pillar inscribed with "Theatrum Principum." Above, a globe is crowned with crossed trumpets and weapons, suggesting power and dominion over the world. To the left, a draped female figure holds a statue, adorned with medallions, representing Nobilitas, or nobility. The image of Hercules, from classical antiquity, appears throughout Western art history, often embodying physical prowess and moral virtue. We see echoes of this archetype in Renaissance sculptures and Baroque paintings, each era reinterpreting the myth to suit its own cultural values. The image of Europa riding the bull, a motif derived from Greek mythology, often resurfaces in the Renaissance and Baroque periods, symbolizing Europe. These symbols speak to a deep-seated desire for order, power, and the legitimation of authority, reflecting the cyclical nature of history itself.