Frederik de Vries 16th century

Claes Jansz. Visscher created this print of Frederik de Vries. The boy sits astride a dog, holding a bird aloft. This arrangement of child, animal, and bird holds a mirror to classical themes, evoking images of Ganymede with Zeus in avian form, suggesting the boy’s elevated status and connection to divine favor. The motif of a child with an animal harkens back to ancient Roman depictions of cherubs with animals, symbols of innocence and harmony with nature, continuing through the Renaissance, often seen in allegorical representations of virtue. Yet, here, the dog transforms from mere pet to steed, the bird from a symbol of the soul's flight to a falconry prop, indicating a shift towards earthly dominion. The underlying psychological current is the assertion of control over nature. The boy's confident gesture—his dominion over the animals—speaks to the evolving human psyche, reflecting our endless quest to master the natural world. These symbols reappear, transformed, in later eras, bearing witness to a continuous, cyclical progression of meaning.