Title Page for Justus Lipsius, Opera Omnia, I
1637
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1637
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This print shows a busy scene packed with figures. At the top, two women hold up a crown over a bearded man’s head. One woman has a lamp, the other a scepter. Below them, smaller figures—some in armor, some writing—stand around a broken column. A snake coils around it, and a winged creature lies dead on the ground. The text at the center reads in Latin about "Justus Lipsius’ works." The broken column and dead creature might hint at ideas falling apart or being reborn. The Latin text suggests this is a book cover, celebrating a scholar’s writings. Next, check out engraving to see how artists like this carved detailed scenes into metal.
