Vijf riviergoden met urnen c. 1660 - 1661

Salvator Rosa etched this image of river gods with urns in the 17th century. The figures, adorned with reeds and reclining amidst lush vegetation, carry urns, ancient symbols of the sources of rivers and fertility. Consider how the depiction of river gods, such as these, stretches back to antiquity. In classical art, gods were often depicted as powerful, bearded men. These river gods remind us of ancient Roman sculptures, where the god of the Tiber River is often depicted reclining with an urn, a nod to the river's life-giving properties. The way Rosa connects these figures to classical traditions is powerful, using art history as a kind of collective memory. These symbols persist, evolving in form, yet their essence—the primal association of water with life and renewal—remains. Such imagery touches something deep within us, stirring a sense of timeless connection to the natural world.