Focus on Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto and explore the Description.
For a more in-depth description and analysis, see the article at Caravaggio.org.Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte, Caravaggio's patron, had a keen interest in alchemy. Caravaggio has painted an allegory of the alchemical triad of Paracelsus: Jupiter stands for sulphur and air, Neptune for mercury and water, and Pluto for salt and earth. Each figure is identified by his beast: Jupiter by the eagle, Neptune by the hippocamp, and Pluto by the three-headed dog Cerberus. Jupiter is reaching out to move the celestial sphere in which the Sun revolves around the Earth. Galileo was a friend of Del Monte, but had yet to make his mark on cosmology.
Paracelsus salt Jupiter Cerberus Neptune Galileo cosmology earth sulphur Caravaggio Francesco Maria Del Monte celestial sphere Pluto mercury alchemy Earth water hippocamp air