Neptunus voor twee wezens met blaasbalgen 1668

This engraving by Abraham Dircksz. Santvoort depicts Neptune, Roman god of the sea, amidst a dynamic scene filled with mythological beings. Note the prominent trident, a symbol of Neptune's power over the seas, and the figures with blaasbalgen—bellows—likely representing the winds. The lute raised high is particularly intriguing. Throughout history, musical instruments have appeared as symbols of harmony and divine order but also of the passions. We can trace this motif back to ancient Greece, where the lyre was associated with Apollo, god of music and light. Consider its echoes in Botticelli's Venus, where music accompanies the goddess's birth, and in countless Renaissance depictions of angelic musicians. Here, the lute’s presence may signify a call for harmony amidst the turbulent scene, perhaps a plea for balance between the forces of nature and human endeavors. This visual motif is not static; it shifts and evolves, reflecting our ever-changing relationship with the world and our deep-seated desire to find meaning in the chaos.