Allegory of the Eagle and Emperor Maximilian I

German 15th Century

National Gallery of Art

The image depicts a printed page with ornate medieval illustrations and Latin text. The central illustration shows an eagle holding a scroll, surrounded by floral motifs and heraldic elements, including a shield with a double-headed eagle. Flanking the central image are smaller panels: on the left, a cherubic figure stands with animals, and below it, a lion's head encircled by Baroque flourishes and the text "S S M A R C V S"; on the right, an angelic figure appears above a bull's head with the text "S L V C A S". The text below the images is in Latin script, spread in a multi-column format with decorative capital letters. The illustrations incorporate detailed line work typical of Renaissance woodcut prints.