Titelpagina voor: Adelaart, of de zegepraalende deugd; toneelspel, 1777 1777

This is the title page for "Adelaart, of de zegepraalende deugd; toneelspel," printed in Amsterdam in 1777, by I. de Wit. The oval cartouche at the center, framed by a garland of leaves, bears the inscription "Pectora Mollescunt." This phrase, suggesting softened hearts, evokes a classical sensibility. Such garlands recur throughout Western art, harking back to ancient Roman and Greek traditions where they symbolized celebration, honor, and festivity, often linked to ritualistic practices. Consider, for instance, how such motifs resurface during the Renaissance, adorning portraits and architectural structures. The shift from pagan to Christian contexts imbued them with new layers of meaning, yet the underlying psychological effect remains: a visual cue triggering associations with beauty, harmony, and the cyclical rhythms of nature. This design engages our collective memory, connecting us to deeper, subconscious understandings of virtue and theatrical emotion.