Drie wapenschilden tussen twee engelen 1593 - 1595

Editor: Here we have “Three Coats of Arms Supported by Two Angels,” an engraving by Wendel Dietterlin, dating back to around 1593-1595. The composition feels incredibly intricate, almost dizzying. I'm really drawn to the detailed line work. What do you make of it? Curator: Dizzying is spot on! It throws me headfirst into a world of swirling lines and baroque fancies. Imagine Dietterlin hunched over a copper plate, teasing out these winged figures. Each stroke brimming with the visual excesses of the Mannerist period. For me, it whispers stories of hidden symbolism. What do those blank shields mean, do you think? Editor: Good question! Are they meant to be personalized later, maybe? Or is the symbolism entirely in the angels and surrounding ornamentation? Curator: That’s exactly where my imagination takes flight. Perhaps the emptiness of the shields is the point itself: they're not about *what* you have, but the values these ethereal figures represent—divine favor, protection, maybe even a touch of artistic genius? Look at the architectural background. What kind of story does that tell? Editor: It makes the whole thing feel theatrical, like a stage set for some grand allegorical play. It seems almost like he's placing earthly power within a heavenly, ornate framework. I hadn't quite considered the angel symbolism as protection until now. Thanks! Curator: Precisely! It makes you ponder, doesn't it? Perhaps Dietterlin's message is that all earthly achievement ultimately finds its validation and significance in a realm beyond the material. It makes you appreciate the engraving’s function of distributing these philosophical musings on the role of power more widely. Editor: That's a fascinating interpretation, highlighting the period’s philosophical themes in a single image. Thanks, I'll certainly look at this style differently now.