Personification of the Planet Saturn

The central figure of Saturn stands within an ornate cartouche, holding a staff while consuming an infant, a motif representing the destructive nature of Time. Above him is the planetary symbol for lead, and in the upper corners are the zodiac signs he rules: the goat of Capricorn and the water-bearer of Aquarius. The surrounding frame contains agricultural tools like a scythe and a beehive, signifying Saturn's role as the god of the harvest and manual labor.

This image illustrates the Renaissance synthesis of astrology and mythology, where Saturn represents both the 'Greater Malefic' planet and the melancholic temperament of scholars. It connects to the works of Marsilio Ficino and Agrippa, who analyzed Saturn's influence on the soul and its association with the foundational alchemical metal, lead.