Bust of Bellona 1526 - 1536

Editor: This is the "Bust of Bellona," an engraving by Giulio Bonasone from sometime between 1526 and 1536. I'm struck by how this figure, presumably the Roman goddess of war, has such a serene, almost melancholic expression. The helmet she wears, though, seems oddly ornamented, there's even a little figure sitting atop it! What symbolic meanings might be embedded here? Curator: Indeed! Bellona, here, transcends simple warlike representation. The figure atop her helmet is intriguing; does it look familiar to you? Could that be Cupid? Editor: It does resemble Cupid! But what could that signify? Curator: Consider Bellona's role. She isn't simply about brute force. She embodies strategic wisdom, the considered approach to conflict. And, in Renaissance imagery, love, even a cherubic Cupid, can signify motivation and drive behind even the most seemingly ruthless actions. This can be seen across time... Think of the Nike swoosh, once representing the wings of the Greek Goddess Victory, now fueling athletic ambition and competitive spirit. It carries that drive! What, then, does this Cupid atop Bellona’s helmet tell us? Editor: Perhaps war, even when conducted under the guise of righteousness or strategy, is always propelled by fundamental human desires or ambitions. So there's a juxtaposition... War being romanticized? Curator: Precisely! And consider the text beneath the portrait. Even there, etched with the sharp lines of the engraving, we find a dialogue about eternal hostility. Bonasone, in this engraving, acknowledges an oscillation. He balances the concepts of aggression and ultimate peace in Bellona's likeness! Editor: I see that duality more clearly now, thank you. It's interesting how familiar symbols change yet echo their history across centuries. Curator: And by noticing them, we connect to those echoes. That continuity of image speaks volumes.