"Han de ser casi biuas las ymágenes de estas cosas." Juan de Mal-Lara's Floating Emblem Book: "Descripición de la Galera Real del Serenísimo Sr. Don Juan dw Austria."

This essay argues that the decoration of the galera real or royal galley of Don Juan de Austria, illegitimate son of the Spanish King and Holy Roman Emperor Carlos I, in the manuscript of humanist Juan de Mal-Lara was conceived as a floating emblem book. It notes that the royal galley of Don Juan de Austria was named a laterna because of the three lanterns at the back of the poop deck of its stern. It cites that the galera real was purposely designed to be a floating emblem book to give moral instruction to do Don Juan de Austria.