Ovale cartouche met een citaat van Valerius Maximus 1555

Curator: So, this is an engraving from 1555 by Frans Huys, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It's titled "Ovale cartouche met een citaat van Valerius Maximus," which translates to "Oval cartouche with a quote by Valerius Maximus". Quite the mouthful, isn't it? The materials listed include drawing, print, ink and pen. My first impression is that this cartouche is grand but intricate! What about you? Editor: It's incredibly detailed! All those swirling shapes, the faces… What do you see in this piece? I’m trying to grasp the context. Curator: Ah, context is king! This, to me, is a moment of Renaissance self-assertion through classical wisdom. See the bundles of rods, the fasces, that decorate the upper sides? Those evoke power and authority, reaching all the way back to ancient Rome. What feelings do those invoke in you? Editor: It definitely gives off a vibe of historical importance and grandeur. All the flourishy shapes feel celebratory, almost triumphal. But it also feels... distant, I guess? Like looking through a very ornate keyhole at something monumental. Curator: Distant, yes! That’s a great word for it. Think about this piece hanging in a wealthy merchant's home; a visible signal of status. But tell me, what does the actual quote contribute? Do you even want to know what it says? Editor: Well now I'm intrigued! Should neither good fortune render us insolent, nor adversity crush us… something like that? So, basically, 'stay balanced'? Curator: Precisely! What better mantra for a world of booming trade, new discoveries and…ever-present plagues? This artwork reflects on so many elements! Editor: This makes me rethink my initial reaction. The artwork has become so much more fascinating when thinking about its cultural function, it almost humanizes the grand flourishes! Curator: Exactly! Now, doesn’t that make you want to go track down every detail and hidden corner?