Scorpion

Scorpion, part of the Luxembourg Palace zodiac series of around 1640, offered Jordaens the most ominous sign — associated with autumn's dying, transformation, and hidden danger. Scorpio's traditional associations with depth, concealment, and transformation posed a challenge for Baroque visual allegory, which typically favoured more legible, positive subjects. Jordaens interprets the sign through figures or narrative elements that carry the sign's characteristic intensity, potentially depicting nocturnal scenes or subjects of confrontation appropriate to Scorpio's martial and secretive associations. As with the other signs in the Luxembourg cycle, the work demonstrates Jordaens's ability to sustain a consistent visual programme across twelve large canvases while varying the thematic and emotional register from sign to sign. The Luxembourg series remains one of the most ambitious decorative zodiac cycles executed by a Flemish master.

The autumnal palette of Scorpion — deeper, darker, more sombre than the spring and summer signs — distinguishes it within the series. Jordaens moves toward deeper shadow and more concentrated chiaroscuro, the canvas's mood reflecting the sign's association with approaching winter. Any scorpion attribute present is rendered with the naturalistic precision Jordaens applied to animal subjects.