Epitaaf met rechthoekig compartiment c. 1670 - 1680

This engraving of an epitaph with a rectangular compartment was made by Lodovico Mattioli in the 17th or 18th century. Note the prominent seashell motif adorning the top of the structure; this symbol has long been associated with Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty, and has roots in ancient mythology, representing birth and the generative forces of nature. The seashell is prevalent across cultures and epochs. Renaissance artists often depicted Venus emerging from a giant scallop shell, a symbolic representation of her divine birth. Consider Botticelli’s famous painting, “The Birth of Venus,” where she stands gracefully on a seashell. This iconic image links back to earlier mythologies, where the shell was seen as a protective vessel, nurturing life within its embrace. The seashell reappears time and again. Like a recurring dream, it resurfaces in various artistic forms, each time subtly altered by the cultural currents of its era. This constant return speaks to our collective subconscious, evoking a primal connection to the sea, fertility, and the enduring cycle of life and rebirth.