Buste van Jupiter 1646 - 1670

This engraving by Hubert Quellinus depicts a bust of Jupiter, king of the gods, adorned with a laurel wreath. This wreath, an emblem of triumph, divinity, and intellectual prowess, directly descends from the ancient world. We see echoes of it in countless later depictions of emperors, poets, and heroes. Consider the Roman emperors who adopted laurel wreaths to symbolize their victories and divine mandate, or the Renaissance poets crowned with laurel as a sign of their creative genius. This iconography, passed down through history, showcases the enduring power of symbols. Psychologically, the laurel wreath taps into our collective unconscious, evoking feelings of respect, admiration, and awe. It is a visual shortcut that conveys authority and prestige, reminding us of humanity's continuous search for greatness and immortality. Like a recurring dream, the laurel wreath reappears, eternally transformed, in the theater of cultural memory.