Sluitstenen met helmen en leeuwenkop 1772 - 1779

Jean Pelletier created this drawing, "Sluitstenen met helmen en leeuwenkop," at an unknown date using pen and brush in gray. Pelletier's architectural drawings reflect the 18th century's fascination with classical forms, filtered through the lens of the Enlightenment. Note the keystone adorned with military helmets and a lion's head, symbols of power, courage, and perhaps nobility, reflecting the hierarchical society of the time. Below, we see an alternative design featuring scrolling foliage. Both suggest a society deeply invested in the visual language of status and authority. These drawings, intended as designs for doorways, remind us that even the most functional aspects of our built environment are imbued with cultural meaning. Consider how these symbols might have affected those passing beneath them, reinforcing or perhaps challenging their sense of place within society.