Illustration VI 15th-16th century

Curator: This woodcut, titled Illustration VI, is of unknown authorship and origin but resides in the Harvard Art Museums. The inscription above the illustration offers clues to its meaning. Editor: It feels like a wild dream! There's this frazzled guy wrestling a bull, while another chap saunters along with a sickle, as if this is all perfectly normal. Curator: The Latin text identifies these figures as associated with the zodiac sign of Scorpio and the planet Saturn. This aligns with the Renaissance interest in astrology. Editor: So it's a celestial drama, then? I see the scorpion hovering over them. It’s like they're trapped in some cosmic play. Curator: Exactly. These illustrations often served educational or decorative purposes, reflecting a worldview steeped in classical learning. Editor: Well, it's certainly sparked my curiosity! I wonder what other stories are hidden in these old symbols.