An Italianate landscape with travellers resting in the shade of a tree, a view of Tivoli in the background 1803

Hendrik Voogd painted this Italianate landscape, an oil on canvas, where nature is rendered with an almost reverential detail. The dominant tree, centrally placed, recalls the ‘arbor vitae,’ the tree of life, a symbol stretching back to ancient Near Eastern art, representing immortality and connection between the earthly and divine. The travellers resting in its shade echo the pastoral scenes of classical antiquity, evoking a yearning for Arcadia, a mythical place of harmony and unspoiled nature. Consider how the symbolism of the tree has evolved, from a sacred grove in ancient Greece to a decorative motif in medieval tapestries. Each era imbues it with new layers of meaning. This longing for a lost paradise, a yearning deeply embedded in the collective psyche, finds expression in the timeless image of travellers seeking refuge beneath its branches. The tree becomes a vessel for our shared memories and unspoken desires. This continuous thread of symbolism across time illustrates the power of images to tap into our deepest emotions, transcending cultures and generations.