Plate 31: The triumph of Scipio Africanus; from Guillielmus Becanus's 'Serenissimi Principis Ferdinandi, Hispaniarum Infantis...' 1636

Jacob Neeffs made this print, "The triumph of Scipio Africanus," sometime in the 17th century. It’s an engraving, created as part of a book celebrating Prince Ferdinand of Spain. The image revives the ancient Roman tradition of the "triumph," a public parade honoring a military hero. Here, Scipio, victor over Hannibal in the Punic Wars, rides a chariot, celebrated by allegorical figures. This imagery, of course, has direct political implications. By associating Prince Ferdinand with Scipio, the book’s authors sought to portray him as a similarly virtuous and powerful leader. Prints like this played a crucial role in shaping political opinion in early modern Europe. They circulated widely, spreading particular ideas about power. Today, historians consult prints like this alongside other sources, such as letters, diaries, and state documents to reconstruct the complex ways power was perceived and maintained in the past.