Monument voor Mauro Tesi 1787

This commemorative monument for Mauro Tesi is presented as a print, and features classical motifs laden with meaning. We see cherubic figures, symbols of divine love, flanking a portrait of the deceased. Below, an artist's tools – easel and sculpture – speak to Tesi’s creative life, his legacy as an architect. The owl, perched on the right, is particularly fascinating. This creature, an attribute of Athena, goddess of wisdom, has roots stretching back to ancient Greece, where it symbolized knowledge and foresight. Yet, in the medieval period, the owl often became associated with darkness and ill omen. Its presence here, however, suggests a return to its classical meaning, representing Tesi's intellect. Consider the endurance of symbols like the owl. They undergo constant metamorphosis, their significance altered and layered through the centuries. Such shifts highlight how images, laden with cultural memory, remain powerful forces, capable of engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level across generations. The owl has a life of its own.