Arms of the Ludovisi Family Surrounded by Four Allegorical Figures 1620 - 1650

Jean Couvay’s engraving features the Ludovisi family arms, encircled by allegorical figures, each laden with symbolic weight. Justice, blindfolded, wields her sword and scales, echoing depictions of Dike in ancient Greek art. A female figure pours water from a vessel into a cup, recalling ancient Roman rituals of purification and sacrifice, where water symbolized cleansing and renewal. Consider the serpent entwined around the arm of one figure. This ancient symbol, found in the caduceus of Hermes and the Rod of Asclepius, has shifted through time, representing healing, wisdom, and even chaos. In the context of the Ludovisi arms, its presence evokes the family’s aspirations to power and its connection to timeless virtues. Like the ouroboros, the serpent symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and death, renewal and decay. The enduring appeal of such imagery lies in its ability to tap into a collective, subconscious memory, engaging viewers with the profound and recurring themes of human existence.