Astrology, from a set of allegories of the arts and sciences with grotesque motifs on black grounds

Engraving, part of a series of allegories of the arts and sciences with grotesque motifs, executed on black grounds by Étienne Delaune before 1573. This print consists of an allegory of Astrology, represented by a woman standing with her head turned to the left, under a small tent, encolsed by an arch formed by a branch of laurel leaves and an olive branch. She elevates her right hand, pointing with her index finger to the upper-left corner of the print, and points with her left hand to a sphere standing at her side. At her feet are two tablets, common attributes of both astrology and astronomy, as is the sphere. On the left is a double child's head, the mouth open to release some kind of smoke, flanked above by a long, undulating flame. The double head is certainly a representation of the knowledge of past and future, and the prophetic gift that it conveys might be symbolized by the smoke it emanates through the mouths. The flame might be a symbol for the dissipation of darkness, which comes with knowledge. On the upper part of the print are two owls, their wings open to the sides, also representing the knowledge of past and future. On the lower part of the composition are two tritons, whose lower bodies interlace with each other's; their symbolism in this allegory of Astrology is not clear.