Gébelin on the Chariot and the Lovers
On the Chariot:
I translate
No. VII - Osiris Triumphant.
Osiris comes forth next; he appears in the form of a king triumphing, scepter in hand, crown on his head: he is in his warrior chariot, pulled by two white horses. Nobody is ignorant of the fact that Osiris was the great Egyptian diety, the same as that of the Sabeen peoples, or the Sun, physical symbol of the supreme invisible Divinity, but who manifests himself in this masterpiece of Nature. It is lost during the winter, and reappears in the Spring with new brightness, having triumphed over everything which made war on him.
And on the Lovers (L'Amoureux): I translate:
No. VI. Marriage
A young man and a young woman pledge their mutual faith: a priest blesses them, Love pierces them with his arrows. The Cardmakers call this card "The Lover". It seems that they themselves added this Cupid with his bow and arrows to make to the picture more expressive in their eyes.
A similar monument can be seen in the Antiquities of Boissard, which depicts the conjugale union, but it is not composed of three figures. Lover and Beloved make their vows. The Angel of Love between them serves as witness and priest.
This work is titled Fidei Simulacrum, a portrayal of conjugale faith: the figures are designated by these beautiful names, Truth, Honor and Love. It is unnecessary to say that Truth here refers to the woman rather than the man, not only because the gender of this word is feminine (La Verité), but because constant fidelity is more essential for the woman. This precious momument was erected by one T. Fundanius Eromenus or "the Aimiable" to his very dear wife Poppée Demetrie, and to their beloved daughter Manilia Eromenis.
The "Fidei Simulacrum" that Gébellin was looking at might have been something like this:
Fidei Simulacrum - the latin caption reads
Let Honour be shown cloaked in Tyrian robe, let naked Truth clasp Honour's right hand, and let chaste Love be in their midst, with the rose around his brow, more lovely than the Cupid of Dione. These signs represent Faithfulness, which Reverence of Honour cherishes, Love nourishes, and Truth delivers.
Here is another
Fidei Symbolum It seems this arrangement of Truth-Love-Honor is a topos in Art.
. I'm so glad someone is enjoying this with me! 