Plate 30: the temple of janus; a two-tiered structure with dome and stage across front on which figures enact a tableau of war and peace; at centre is the representation of the opening of the temple doors with subsidiary scenes depicted in the flanking porticos: in the portico at right are tranquility, security and peace, who drops her cornucopia and throws her weight unsuccessfully into pushing closed the heavy door; in the doorway furor, with bandaged eyes and brandishing a sword and torch bursts from the interior darkness; to the right are two caryatid terms of repose and concord; on the parapet above is an ornament with emblems of peace, including agricultural implements and produce, flowers and two turtle-doves; two female personifications of abundance and fertility flank the candelabrum dedicated to felicitas temporum above the right portico; opposite, on the lower stage at left is the ferocity of war with a soldier pulling the hair of a woman beside the personification of death; the personifications of discord and tisiphone, wrench open the temple door, overturning an urn of blood; at far left are caryatid terms of discord and strife; on the parapet above is the trophy of war consisting of arms and armour and two grisly heads; two female personfication of poverty and grief flank the candelabrum dedicated to calamitas publica; crowning the pediment is a double bust of the roman god, janus; after peter paul rubens; illustration for gaspar gevaerts' "pompa introitus" (antwerp, 1641)
etching. Date: 1635-1641 (c.). Dimensions: Height: 537 mm (plate-mark); Height: 649 mm (sheet); Width: 454 mm; Width: 543 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Gaspar Gevaerts. Collection: British Museum. Templum Jani (BM 1884,0112.61)
Loading...
