Randdecoratie met bovenaan twee schildpadden after 1611

This border decoration, made by Henri Le Roy, features a series of portrait medallions, each meticulously detailed, evoking the grand tradition of Roman portraiture. The profiles echo those found on ancient coins, tools for disseminating power and projecting authority, while the turtle, at first glance, appears innocuous, yet, it carries a deep symbolic weight. Often associated with longevity and steadfastness, the turtle can also symbolize the slow but sure accumulation of knowledge. Consider its presence in Aesop’s fables, the tortoise and the hare—a motif that speaks to the latent, almost subconscious understanding that patience and perseverance often triumph over impulsive speed. We see this symbolism echoed throughout history, where the turtle appears in various cultural contexts, from mythological tales to emblems of philosophical schools, each time slightly altered, subtly reinterpreted, yet retaining its core essence. Like the steady march of time, the images of the turtle remind us of the cyclical nature of symbols, their resilience and ability to resonate across epochs, stirring something ancient within us.