Titelpagina voor: G. Maggi, De tintinnabulis liber postumus, 1664 1664

Pieter Philippe etched this title page in 1664, a symbolic gateway to G. Maggi’s posthumous work on bells. Dominating the scene, a figure supports an enormous bell, its inscription declaring it a 'master of tintinnabuli' – the art of ringing. The bell, beyond its obvious function, echoes ancient rituals. Think of the sistrum in ancient Egypt, or the bells in medieval churches, each ring a call to awaken the soul. The gesture of holding the bell aloft recalls Atlas bearing the heavens, a burden of responsibility, a symbol that has been passed down from antiquity. Here, the bell is more than just a sound-making object; it is a vessel of collective memory. The sound of bells has always evoked powerful emotions, from joy to mourning, engaging us on a subconscious level, shaping our cultural and spiritual experiences. The symbol reminds us of how these images resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.