Jupiter en Juno

Jupiter, crowned and holding a thunderbolt, gazes at Juno as she leans back against his chest. His eagle is partially visible to the right, and the scene is set within a swirling sky of heavy clouds. The composition emphasizes the physical intimacy of the deities, rendered with the muscular, elongated forms characteristic of Dutch Mannerism.

This print allegorizes the 'Golden Age' and cosmic harmony; the inscription suggests that when the supreme celestial pair are united in peace, the destructive thunderbolts are stilled. In the Neoplatonic context of the late 16th century, such unions represented the reconciliation of opposing planetary or elemental forces into a state of universal concord.