Ornamenteel kapiteel en basement van zuil 1535 - 1537

This engraving depicts an ornate capital and the base of a column, teeming with symbolic weight. The acanthus leaves, a classical motif, swirl around the capital, a symbol of resilience and rebirth, recalling their ancient association with tombs and immortality. But consider, too, the ram's heads adorning the corners. These evoke Aries, a zodiacal sign linked to spring, renewal, and assertive energy. This image, therefore, is not just a static depiction of architectural elements; it’s a convergence of signs, each carrying layers of cultural memory. We see the persistence of this motif echoing through time, appearing in later Renaissance and Baroque works. Its transformation reveals the enduring human desire to connect with the symbolic language of the past, even as meanings evolve. The ram, once a symbol of virility and strength, can, in other contexts, become a marker of stubbornness. It is this very ambiguity that grants such symbols their enduring power.