Laan en beeld van Ceres in tuinen van Paleis Het Loo 1689 - 1702

This print by Laurens Scherm depicts an avenue with a statue of Ceres in the gardens of Het Loo Palace. Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, symbolizes fertility, nourishment, and the cycle of life and death. Notice how the avenue guides the viewer's eye directly to her. This recalls the ancient Roman practice of placing statues of deities in gardens, imbuing the space with sacred qualities, transforming the landscape into a symbolic representation of abundance. This symbol travels through time, from ancient Roman villas to the gardens of the European elite. We see echoes of it in the Renaissance revival of classical motifs, connecting the present to the past. Ceres has evolved, shifting from a religious icon to a symbol of prosperity and cultural sophistication. This enduring image of Ceres invites us to contemplate how symbols can continually resurface, evolving, and taking on new meanings across the ages.