Ornament met putti, bloemen en een medaillon c. 1701

This drawing presents an ornamental design teeming with classical motifs. Dominating the composition is a female figure reminiscent of Ceres, goddess of agriculture, flanked by what appear to be a lion and an iguana. Above, putti tenderly embrace, set against a medallion depicting an artist sculpting a statue. These symbols echo through time; the cornucopia of Ceres, a symbol of abundance, reappears throughout art history from ancient Roman reliefs to Renaissance paintings. This gesture of open-handed offering speaks to a primal desire for nature's bounty. Consider, too, the putti, figures that dance through the Renaissance, embodying innocence and divine love, tracing back to Cupid and Eros. Here, the artist alludes to a lineage of artistic and cultural ideals passed down through generations, shaping our collective unconscious. This artistic heritage doesn't progress in a straight line; it spirals, resurfaces, and transforms with each new age.