Plate Eleven, from A New Book of Ornaments 1704

Simon Gribelin II created this ornamental plate in the late 17th or early 18th century, brimming with symbols of classical antiquity. Note the abundance of acanthus leaves, a motif favored since ancient Greece for its association with resilience and rebirth. Here, they form a dense frame, a testament to enduring vitality. At the top, a putto, a cherubic figure, sits confidently, holding a torch aloft, an age-old symbol of enlightenment and truth. Recall how similar figures appear in Roman frescoes, their gestures echoing across millennia. Look closely, and you'll notice how the torch, initially a beacon of knowledge, sometimes morphs into a symbol of destructive passion, as seen in the frenzied rituals depicted on ancient Greek vases. The symbol of the putto encapsulates the human psyche, reflecting both our highest aspirations and our most primal drives. These ornamental designs are a constant return, a cyclical re-emergence that speaks to the enduring power of these symbols in the Western imagination.