Allegorie op het 25-jarig bestaan van Arti et Amicitiae, 1864 1864 - 1865

Frans Molenaar created this allegory on the 25th anniversary of Arti et Amicitiae in 1864. Two female figures float above the scene under the years 1839 and 1864, symbols of time and progress. One figure scatters flowers, an ancient symbol of fertility and new beginnings, gestures that harken back to classical depictions of Flora, the Roman goddess of springtime. Below, we see a mother embracing children, a timeless motif representing care and the nurturing spirit of artistic creation. This evokes the "Maria Lactans," or nursing Madonna, which has roots in ancient images of the Egyptian goddess Isis suckling her son Horus. This symbol has persisted for millennia, evolving from pagan iconography to Christian art. The enduring image of the nurturing mother transcends cultural boundaries, resonating with the collective subconscious and reminding us of the primal bond between mother and child. Notice how Molenaar intertwines classical and religious symbols to create an emotional tableau, underscoring the cyclical nature of artistic inspiration.