Plattegrond van de zuilengalerij van de keizers; intocht van Ferdinand te Antwerpen in 1635 (nr. 23) 1639 - 1641

This plan of the pillared gallery of emperors, part of the entrance of Ferdinand in Antwerp in 1635, was conceived by Theodoor van Thulden. Two winged putti command our attention, poised with symbolic tools. Notice one of the putti with a spear, a symbol of power and authority stretching back to antiquity. The spear, a classical reference, reminds us of Mars, the god of war, while also pointing to the more immediate martial strength of Ferdinand. But consider, too, how the cherubic form softens the potency of the spear, a visual paradox revealing the complex choreography of power and innocence. Similarly, the other cherub holds measuring instruments, symbols of reason and governance, and a reminder that a ruler’s power must be balanced with wisdom. The inclusion of cherubs is no accident, drawing on the collective memory of the renaissance, evoking a divine legitimacy, with a hint of cupid, whose arrows make victims fall in love with the ruler. This is a shrewd blend of raw power and artful persuasion.