Education of Jupiter

Jacob Jordaens painted this oil on canvas, ‘Education of Jupiter,’ a classical scene teeming with symbols. Here, the infant Jupiter is educated amongst the sylvan deities. A lyre is played, a symbol of harmony and order in the cosmos; it’s a motif we see echoed in Renaissance depictions of Apollo, leading the muses. The goat, often shown suckling the infant god, is a symbol of plenty and nourishment. These symbols, reminiscent of antiquity, link to the power of classical mythology and its relevance to 17th-century thought. We see traces of collective memory in these recurring symbols; the image of the nurturing goat echoes ancient fertility cults, and resurfaces throughout history, morphing to fit new cultural landscapes. In Jordaens's painting, these symbols aren't static; they provoke a powerful, emotional response. The artist has created an image that engages us on a deep, subconscious level, reminding us of the enduring power of myth and symbol.