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Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0 · Hover to magnify, click for fullscreen
Original fileThe god Jupiter stands atop a pedestal holding thunderbolts and a scepter, flanked by his zodiacal signs, Pisces and Sagittarius. Below him, a diverse group of figures represents the social and intellectual order he governs, including a scholar measuring a globe with a compass, high-ranking clergymen, and hunters. An armillary sphere and various books in the foreground emphasize the connection between the planet Jupiter and the pursuit of higher wisdom and science.
This engraving illustrates the 'Children of the Planets' motif, a cornerstone of Renaissance astrological theory that linked celestial bodies to specific human temperaments and societal roles. It reflects the Neoplatonic view of Jupiter as the 'Greater Benefic,' the source of justice, religious authority, and the 'sapientia' (wisdom) necessary for governing the world.
♃ Artibus exorno varys ego Jupiter orbem, Omnis et e nostro manat sapientia fonte.
Translation
♃ I, Jupiter, adorn the world with various arts, And all wisdom flows from our fountain.
Marsilio Ficino
Ficino's 'De vita libri tres' describes how to attract the beneficial 'Jovial' spirit to counteract the melancholy of Saturn, mirroring the scholarly and dignified activities shown here.
Ptolemy, Tetrabiblos
The foundational text defining Jupiter's influence over the priesthood, law, and high-status intellectual pursuits.
Object
Engraving
allegory
Digital Source
Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
http://hdl.handle.net/1887.1/item:1624922
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
2005 × 2835 px
c06d8f5a7316800ed7fb3b4d87b05c65406bf678
February 10, 2021
March 23, 2026
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 1, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.