Filips de Schone, koning van Spanje 1505

This medal depicting Filips de Schone, King of Spain, was crafted by Jacques Jonghelinck. Here, observe the figure of a woman, standing firm atop a globe amidst turbulent waters; she embodies 'Virtue and Constancy'. This iconography echoes images of Fortuna or Victory, goddesses often depicted with similar attributes across classical antiquity. Consider how, in earlier Roman art, Fortuna might be shown with a rudder, guiding the ship of state, a symbol of control over destiny. Yet, here, the globe she stands upon suggests not mastery, but precarious balance. The surrounding tempest hints at the unpredictable nature of power and the virtues required to navigate it. The persistence of such symbols reveals our enduring psychological need to grapple with fate, to visualize the forces that shape our lives. Notice how this image, like those before it, engages us on an emotional level, stirring deep-seated anxieties and aspirations related to leadership and stability. The symbol's cyclical progression allows us to find a sense of continuity, subtly altered by each new context.