An Inn in the Neighborhood of Nantes 1640 - 1660

Lambert Doomer painted this inn near Nantes on canvas sometime in the 17th century. We see a humble scene of everyday life imbued with symbols of toil and rest. Notice how the animals — the horse and the donkey — stand as silent witnesses to human activity. They evoke the ancient motif of burdened beasts, a symbol found as early as the cave paintings of Lascaux. Yet, here, they're not wild creatures but domesticated servants. Consider the donkey, often associated with patience and humility, echoing Christian iconography where it carries Christ into Jerusalem. The well, too, bears its historical weight. Throughout time, the well has been a meeting place, a source of life and community. It symbolizes purity, healing, and even divine intervention, resurfacing in countless myths and religious texts. These symbols engage us on a subconscious level, stirring collective memories. Doomer masterfully weaves these threads together, inviting us to reflect on the timeless cycles of life, work, and rest.