Moufflon 1739

Jean-Baptiste Oudry painted this Mouflon in oil, capturing the animal within a detailed natural setting. The Mouflon, with its impressive curved horns, presents us with a symbol deeply embedded in our cultural memory. Consider the ram's horns: throughout history, horns have signified power, virility, and leadership. In ancient Egypt, the ram was associated with the god Khnum, a creator deity fashioned humans on a pottery wheel. This symbolism evolved through the ages, appearing in various forms, from the Greek god Aries to the biblical use of rams in sacrificial rituals. The image of the ram stirs primal emotions; its strength and dominance are both admired and feared. Oudry's Mouflon engages us on a subconscious level. In this image, the animal exudes both regality and vulnerability, and we are reminded of the cyclical nature of power. The visual language of the Mouflon—its horns, its posture, and the rich symbolism attached to it—continues to resonate. It serves as a powerful reminder of how symbols endure, transform, and resurface across time.