Cartouche met twee adelaars en twee putti die een kroon vasthouden 1647

Stefano della Bella created this cartouche with two eagles and putti, sometime in the 17th century. It centers around a blank shield, flanked by heraldic eagles, symbols of power and empire since antiquity. Note how the putti, cherubic figures symbolizing divine love, hold a crown above the shield. The putti appear in ancient Roman art and then re-emerge during the Renaissance, and they suggest a continuity of cultural values across time. These motifs recur in different eras, yet they subtly shift in meaning. For example, the classical Roman eagle was associated with military victory, but in the 17th century, it represents sovereignty and nobility. This symbolic vocabulary is not fixed but evolves. The image appeals to our collective memory, stirring deep-seated emotions associated with authority, love, and legacy. This visual language continues to resonate, revealing the complex ways cultural symbols are continually reinterpreted.