AF-LX-1487.T.jpg

Engraving depicting Hercules, wearing the lion's head, with the globe upon his back. The globe is flanked by Apollo and Mercury, each on a cart drawn by birds upon a cloud; there is a countryside with mountains and a castle in the background. All this is upon a cloth supported by groups of three putti on either side; the putti hold shields, six in total, each with an inscription. These are:
a boat at sea, "Alias felagi sensura minas";
a log half submerged in water off a coast, "Promptius exilit";
a tree with foliage growing around its trunk as well as on its branches, "Felix si haereat";
a bent torso in classical armor, "Novos duratur ad ictus";
a partially open clam-shell on a coat with a personified sun rising, "Plena si pleno coit orbe";
a palm tree bent over with the weight of a boulder tied to its upper branches, "Altius surget".
Atop the globe carried by Hercules is a shield divided in halves, with an Ionic column surmounted by a crown on the left, and a diagonal band with a chequerboard pattern on the right.
Artist attributions appear on lower edge of object, in corners: "Franciscus Villa comena Fecit" and "Franciscus Albus Inventor".


whales
1596-01-02
PERMANENT COLLECTION
Hart Nautical
Albanus, Franciscus; Villa, Franciscus
ink; laid paper
12 in x 17 1/2 in
Italy: Rome