Cartouche met een citaat van Terentius 1556

This anonymous, 16th-century, engraving, titled "Cartouche met een citaat van Terentius", is a visual representation of a quote from the Roman playwright Terence. The artwork features an elaborate cartouche, a decorative frame, adorned with grotesque figures and botanical motifs, forming a symmetrical composition. The quote, "VERBUM HER/CLE HOC VE/RUM EST, SINE/CERERE, ET/BACCHO FRI/GET VENYS," translated as "A word of Hercules is true, but without Ceres and Bacchus, love is not had," is prominently displayed within the cartouche. The intricate details and whimsical figures of the cartouche exemplify the decorative style prevalent in Renaissance art, and the quote itself reflects the intellectual and humanist values of the period. This piece from the Rijksmuseum offers a glimpse into the world of 16th-century art, where the combination of visual and literary elements conveyed profound ideas and artistic expression.