Twee sybillen

Two female prophetesses, or Sibyls, stand in heavy, voluminous classical drapery. One figure holds a scroll, a traditional attribute of ancient prophecy, while the other rests her hand on a thick book, symbolizing the transition from oral to written revelation. The scene uses strong light and shadow to give the figures a monumental, sculptural quality.

The Sibyls represent the 'Prisca Theologia', the Renaissance Neoplatonic belief that God revealed divine truths to pagan antiquity as well as to the Israelites. They were considered bridge figures between the Greco-Roman mystery traditions and Christian theology, often cited by thinkers like Marsilio Ficino as proof of a universal spiritual wisdom.