Plate 15 c. 17th century

This is Plate 15 by Stefano della Bella, made in the 17th century, a testament to the enduring power of classical motifs. Notice the recurring presence of putti and satyrs, symbols deeply rooted in Greco-Roman antiquity. The putti, winged cherubs, evoke a sense of playful innocence and divine love, while the satyrs, with their human-animal hybridity, embody the untamed aspects of nature and earthly desires. The flowing acanthus scrolls, framing these figures, remind us of similar adornments in ancient Roman friezes and Renaissance frescoes. Consider how the satyr, originally a symbol of Dionysian revelry, reappears throughout history, from the sculptures of ancient Greece to Renaissance paintings. The image of the satyr, a visual shorthand for wildness, desire, and the subconscious, taps into a deep-seated part of our collective psyche. Ultimately, these motifs bear witness to the cyclical return of symbols, constantly reshaped by cultural memory.