Calais and Zetes led by Boreas and Oreithyia (Calai e Zeti condotti da Borea et Oritia), with female-headed sea creatures at the prow and stern, and a tree at shipdeck center, from the series 'The magnificent pageant on the river Arno in Florence for the marriage of the Grand Duke' (Le Magnifique carousel fait sur le fleuve de l'Arne a Florence, pour le mariage du Grand Duc), for the wedding celebration of Cosimo de' Medici in Florence, 1608 1664

Editor: This engraving, dating to 1664, is entitled *Calais and Zetes led by Boreas and Oreithyia*. It's by an anonymous artist and commemorates a Florentine wedding. The fantastical ship imagery feels…layered, almost performative in its symbolism. What do you make of the cultural significance embedded here? Curator: Ah, yes, a veritable cornucopia of symbolic meaning! This isn't just a picture of a ship; it's a vessel carrying the weight of cultural memory. The figures, Calais and Zetes, are sons of Boreas, the North Wind. Boreas, along with Oreithyia, leading this grand vessel…they're not just characters; they are embodiments of power, of the very air that fills the sails of history. The tree on the ship could allude to renewal and Medici power. Notice how the mythical sea creatures on either side are both feminine; the visual cues are all interwoven. Doesn't this tapestry of visual signifiers resonate with you? Editor: I see what you mean about it being woven! I'm thinking about how those feminine creatures bookend it. Are they symbols, too? Curator: Indeed! Those hybrid figures at the prow and stern – are they alluring? Dangerous? They could symbolize the dual nature of the sea itself: a source of life and prosperity but also of chaos and peril. The cultural memory here connects marital union to navigating the unpredictable currents of life and solidifies Medici dominance, a spectacle for celebrating Cosimo de’ Medici! Editor: That makes sense! I hadn't picked up on all those layers of symbolism, especially how the sea creatures were part of this web of symbols connecting power and marriage. Curator: These symbols speak across centuries! Images were then, as they are now, carriers of complex emotions and cultural aspirations. Recognizing them offers entry into understanding both the wedding *and* Medici authority.