Portret van Francesco II Sforza 1650 - 1695

Gaspar Bouttats made this print portraying Francesco II Sforza. Around the Duke's portrait are an array of symbols and figures. At the bottom, a winged putto. To the left, a depiction of Minerva, Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, and to the right, a lyre-bearing Apollo, associated with music, arts and knowledge. These allude to Sforza's virtues and the cultural flourishing during his rule. What strikes me most, though, is the owl at the feet of Minerva. This creature transcends time, reappearing in various contexts throughout history. In ancient Greece, the owl was associated with Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and was a symbol of knowledge and insight. Yet, in other cultures, the owl is seen as an ominous figure, a harbinger of death and misfortune. This duality reflects the complex interplay of conscious understanding and subconscious fears, mirroring the human psyche's struggle to reconcile light and darkness. This image, laden with symbols, engages our emotions, drawing us into a deeper contemplation of history and the enduring power of cultural memory.