A cartouche with an eagle and a snake, a skull and crossbones at top, wings to either side, from 'Eight Emblems for the Funeral of Francesco de Medici' (Huit emblèmes pour les funérailles du prince François de Médicis) 1640 - 1660

Stefano della Bella created this print, ‘A Cartouche with an Eagle and a Snake,’ as part of a series of emblems for Francesco de Medici’s funeral. The image teems with symbols of mortality and power. The skull and crossbones, and the triumphant eagle, all speak to the universal themes of death and legacy. Consider the eagle, a symbol of power since antiquity. We see it throughout history, from the Roman Empire to modern heraldry. Here, it clutches a snake, a motif that winds through time, representing everything from healing to temptation. The eagle-snake conflict is particularly fascinating, as it reflects our primal struggles with life and death. The snake is a creature of the earth, tied to the subconscious, while the eagle soars to the heavens. This struggle reminds us of the inherent tension between our earthly existence and our aspirations for something beyond. These symbols are not static; they evolve, resurface, and take on new meanings, echoing through the ages.