Schouw met kandelaars 1731 - 1775

This is Emanuel Eichel's "Schouw met kandelaars," a design for a mantelpiece with candelabras. Look closely at the elaborate, swirling patterns dominating this design. These are examples of rocaille, a motif derived from the French word "rocaille" describing stones, shells, and water features used to decorate garden grottoes. This ornamentation is no mere surface decoration. The asymmetrical, organic forms that you see capture a deeper shift away from the symmetrical, ordered world of the Renaissance. Consider how the rocaille resembles the uncontrollable forces of nature. They elicit the sublime, a concept we can trace back to Longinus. The fire in the hearth, framed by these motifs, becomes a focal point for contemplating the mysteries of life and the power of nature. Observe how the candelabras flank the mirror above the mantelpiece. Light and reflection play on our perception, and the collective memory of these symbols evokes an emotional response that transcends mere aesthetics, stirring something profound within us. These patterns become more than decorative flourishes; they embody a cultural memory, and a fascination with the sublime, continually resurfacing across different epochs.