The Seven Planets: Mars
Etienne Delaune French
Not on view
Engraving, part of a set of seven oval engravings illustrating the seven planets, created by Etienne Delaune in 1575. Each print contains an allegorical representation of one of the seven planets, made up of the god that presides each planet, sitting on clouds and endowed with their traditional attributes, with one or two astrological signs representing the planet being, and the corresponding symbols for each planet, which are also chemical symbols.
In this engraving, Mars is representing, according to tradition, wearing a muscle cuirass and a helmet, holding a shield and a sword. Behind his head, to the right, is the symbol of the planet, also the chemical sign for fire. On the left of the oval is a ram (Aries) and, above it, a scorpio, the day and night 'houses' of the planet.
