Plate 14: the arch of philip: the rear face; this etching depicts a two-tiered structure with a great central portral and smaller flanking portals, interspersed with composite columns and backed by pilasters supporting the entablature above; the painted centrepiece set within the tympanum depicts the marriage between philip the fair and joanna of castille; flanked on either side by a blazing torch and a satyr astride a dolphin; surmounted by a personification of the austrian monarchy seated in majesty and carrying a caduceus, poppies and grain in her left hand; with right hand she inserts cross-sceptre of christianity into a globe, symbolic of the orbis terrarum, offered by a kneeling winged genius; she is encircled by the zodiac, with star of heperus shining above; to the left stands apollo bearing the sun and the banner of portugal, and beside him a seated personification of india orientalis holding a cornucopia; to the right luna presents the moon and holds up the banner of castile, and beside her sits the personfication of india occidentalis spilling coins from her horn of plenty; six portraits of the austrian monarchy adorn the lower tier: at upper left and right appear king ferdinand ii of aragón and queen isabella of castille; the previous governors of the spanish netherlands on the gallery over the arch include the archdukes albert and isabella, and at lower left and right, the archduke ernest and cardinal-infante ferdinand, respectively; at the centre above the portal stands a statue of hymen; flanking the centre plaque above are two cornucopias from which emerge the heads of the sons and daughters of the archdukes albert and isabella; after peter paul rubens; illustration for gaspar gevaerts' "pompa introitus" (antwerp, 1641)
etching. Date: 1635-1641 (c.). Dimensions: Height: 550 mm (plate-mark); Height: 649 mm (sheet); Width: 362 mm; Width: 543 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Gaspar Gevaerts. Collection: British Museum. Arcus Philippei Pars Posterior (BM 1884,0112.45)
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