Guirlande met ondermeer twee bolgewassen 1596 - 1633

This small, vibrant garland, crafted by an anonymous hand, teems with symbols drawn from both nature and imagination. At each side we observe sphinxes, mythical creatures that guard ancient secrets, their forms rooted in the artistic traditions of antiquity and Renaissance Humanism. The presence of these chimerical figures, half-human and half-animal, suggests a deeper, perhaps subconscious, attempt to reconcile the rational with the irrational. One can trace the Sphinx's evolution, from its imposing presence in ancient Egyptian monuments to its decorative role in the Renaissance. Here, the Sphinx, adorned with floral motifs, is a potent image of hybridity and transformation. Its enduring appeal through various epochs reveals the human psyche’s continuous fascination with the merging of different realms. The garland speaks to our unending quest to find harmony within the chaos of existence.