A goddess in a chariot 1750 - 1775

Andrea Scacciati created this drawing of a goddess in a chariot using pen and brown ink with brown wash, heightened with white gouache, over black chalk. The goddess, perhaps Aurora, rides her chariot across the sky, surrounded by putti and garlands of flowers, symbols of the renewal and bounty associated with her divine role. We see echoes here of Botticelli’s Venus, reborn from the seafoam, and the powerful figures on Roman triumphal arches. The garland motif, spanning across time and cultures, first appears in ancient Greek rituals, signifying honor and celebration. Consider how such imagery persists, transformed, in modern parades and ceremonies. This image touches the collective unconscious, evoking feelings of optimism and joy. The dynamism in Scacciati's goddess invites us to reflect on how symbols of triumph continue to resurface.