Petit Trianon. Keys of Heaven 

Andrey Remnev painted "Petit Trianon. Keys of Heaven" in a style that blends classical portraiture with symbolic elements. Notice the recurring motifs: caged birds, fans, and flowers, each laden with significance. Caged birds, traditionally symbols of the soul, appear here amidst a latticework backdrop that evokes confinement. The fan, historically a tool of flirtation and secrecy, masks and reveals, much like the delicate balance between openness and restraint in social interactions. Flowers at the neckline, roses or similar blooms, suggest beauty and perhaps a touch of melancholy. We can compare these elements with similar motifs in Renaissance paintings, where caged birds were prevalent in allegories of the soul's imprisonment in the material world. The symbolism of flowers as emblems of transient beauty and love dates back to antiquity. The emotional tension in this image is palpable. There’s a sense of longing, a subtle desire for freedom. It’s as if Remnev is inviting us to ponder the psychological weight of societal expectations and the individual's yearning for liberation from the constraints of courtly life. This cyclical play between restraint and freedom, concealment and revelation, continues to resonate.