The Hermetic Image

This formal portrait depicts King Charles II of Spain, to whom Athanasius Kircher dedicated his 1675 work 'Arca Noë'. The young monarch is shown in full regalia, standing beside a table draped with the royal coat of arms and holding a scroll, symbolizing his role as a protector of the arts and sciences. The engraving, executed by Coenraet Decker, exemplifies the grand Baroque style used to project imperial authority and divine right.

The frontispiece to Athanasius Kircher's 'Arca Noë' (1675) presents a grand allegorical vision of the biblical Deluge and the Ark as a symbol of the Church. At the top, God the Father presides over a celestial host, while below, Noah is depicted receiving divine instructions near a pedestal bearing the book's title. In the background, the Ark floats upon the waters with the inscription 'Extra quam non est Salus' (Outside of which there is no salvation), reinforcing the work's theological and historical synthesis.