Leopard 

Antonio Ligabue painted this 'Leopard', and he populates this canvas with primal symbols of life and death. The leopard, with its snarling maw and predatory stance, embodies raw power and instinct. Images of felines have pervaded art since antiquity, representing royalty, strength, and ferocity. Think of the lion gates of Mycenae, guarding the city, or the Egyptian goddess Bastet, embodying both the protective and vengeful aspects of feline nature. Ligabue's leopard stands as a modern echo of these ancient symbols, emerging from the depths of our collective memory. The skulls near the leopard's paws, stark reminders of mortality, evoke the "memento mori" tradition seen in Dutch still life paintings. These symbols remind us of the ephemeral nature of existence. Yet, the cycle continues, life feeds on death, just as the leopard thrives in its domain, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level, stirring primal fears and instincts. The leopard is not merely an animal; it is a timeless symbol of the life force, forever engaged in a cycle of destruction and renewal.