Ontwerp voor jardinière met knielende figuren, met daaronder detail met schild c. 1864 - 1894

This is Henri Cameré’s sketch for a jardinière, featuring kneeling figures, rendered in pencil. Notice how the figures supporting the jardinière evoke the ancient motif of the Atlas, burdened with the weight of the world. Here, they kneel, carrying a vessel of life and growth. The shield detail below echoes the protective function, yet its ornate design speaks more of display than defense. Consider, too, the cherubic figures adorning the bowl. These winged putti, symbols of divine love, have journeyed through art history from pagan cupids to Christian angels, their forms adapted to carry new spiritual meanings, yet always tethered to primal desires and affections. This piece is more than a design; it’s a stage where symbols from different eras meet, reminding us that art is a living dialogue between the past and present, continuously reshaped by our collective memory.