Pendant

The pendant is shaped as a sea animal, probably a dolphin, and made of enamelled gold set with thirteen precious stones (amethysts, emeralds, rubies and possibly garnets). The dolphin is ridden by a warrior in Roman dress, with mace in his hand. The pendants were popular in the Renaissance jewellery. The iconography of this artwork is related with the Collaert's designs (a Flemish engraver) of Neptune riding on dolphins, and from the reliefs of the cloister at Salamanca University. These were inspired by illustrations in the work of Francesco Colonna Hypnerotomachia Poliphili (1499). The piece may refer to Philip II as the Spanish Hercules and to the power of the Spanish navy in the Battle of Lepanto (1571).