Cockle Shell Collection

Galatea, detail of putto and dolphins, 1506 (fresco) (detail of 56473)
BEN108064 Galatea, detail of putto and dolphins, 1506 (fresco) (detail of 56473) by Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio of Urbino) (1483-1520); Villa Farnesina, Rome, Italy; Photo eRaffaello Bencini; Italian

Galatea, detail of mermen and dolphins, 1506 (fresco) (detail of 56473)
BEN108063 Galatea, detail of mermen and dolphins, 1506 (fresco) (detail of 56473) by Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio of Urbino) (1483-1520); Villa Farnesina, Rome, Italy; Photo eRaffaello Bencini; Italian

Saint James the Great, c. 1470 / 1480. Creator: Israhel van Meckenem
Saint James the Great, c. 1470/1480

Michel de Montagne, 1775. Artist: J Collyer
Michel de Montagne, 1775. Portrait of Montaigne (1533-1592). A plate from The Copper-Plate Magazine or A Monthly Treasure, London, 1775

Aniseed Cockleshell (Lentinellus cochleatus)

Common cockle (bivalve) shell SEM C013 / 7194
Common cockle shell, scanning electron micrograph (SEM). The cockle (Cerastoderma edule) is one of the most common species of molluscs found in tidal flats and estuaries

Biological collection. Collection of biological specimens arranged in a circular pattern. Clockwise from upper right are: seeds from tropical legume plants, euphorbia flowers, jewel beetles

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Amidst the enchanting world of mythology and the wonders of nature, let's explore a few intriguing connections. In the detail of Botticelli's "Galatea," we find a putto playfully holding a cockle shell, a symbol of Venus, the goddess of love. Fast forward to the 18th century, and we see J. Collyer's depiction of Michel de Montagne, a French poet, holding a similar shell. In the realm of science, the Aniseed Cockleshell (Lentinellus cochleatus) and the Common Cockle (bivalve) shell share striking resemblances. Meanwhile, in history, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, the second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots, is portrayed with a cockle shell in a painting by Rivers. This seemingly ordinary shell has traveled through time and art, connecting mythology, literature, science, and history.