Schrijver en vrouw omringd door dieren 1717

This engraving, “Schrijver en vrouw omringd door dieren,” presents us with a symbolic tableau. On the right, we see Virgil, crowned with laurel, surrounded by animals and a woman with a cornucopia. The laurel, of course, signifies honor and triumph, linking Virgil to Apollo, the god of poetry and light, a motif dating back to ancient Greece. Observe how this iconography has migrated through time. Consider, for instance, how Roman emperors adopted laurel wreaths to assert their authority, echoing the divine association. In later Renaissance paintings, we see poets and scholars depicted with similar wreaths, signaling their intellectual prowess and classical inspiration. But what of the animals? The lion, a symbol of strength, and the cornucopia, overflowing with abundance, hint at Virgil's influence and the prosperity his words brought. These symbols tap into a deep, collective memory, a yearning for order and meaning. This image isn't just a portrait; it's a potent invocation of cultural memory and a testament to the enduring power of symbols.