Triumphs of Julius Caesar: Canvas No. IV c. 18th century

Andrea Mantegna created this canvas as part of his series, *Triumphs of Julius Caesar*, illustrating a Roman victory procession. Here, we see figures carrying spoils and ritual objects, such as the great vases, all symbols of conquered territories, and the sacrificed bull, alluding to victory through sacrifice. Consider the motif of the sacrificial bull, so central to the rituals of ancient victory and atonement. This image echoes across millennia, from the Minoan bull-leaping frescoes to Picasso's *Guernica*, where the bull embodies primal suffering. The bull is not merely an animal; it is a vessel of collective memory, absorbing our anxieties and aspirations across cultures. Note how these figures carrying votive offerings are weighted down by the vessels, almost as if they are carrying the full weight of history itself. This is the human psyche imprinted on artistic form, an emotional landscape rendered visible through shared symbols. In each iteration, the bull morphs, yet it remains tethered to our subconscious, a reminder of our deepest fears and hopes, forever imprinted in our cultural memory.