Vaas met acanthusbladeren en slangen 1764

Benigno Bossi created this drawing of a vase with acanthus leaves and snakes sometime in the late 18th century. The image, now in the Rijksmuseum, reflects the period's fascination with classical forms and the natural world. Made during the Neoclassical movement, this drawing revives ancient Greek and Roman aesthetics. Notice how the acanthus leaves, a common motif in classical architecture, blend with the snakes, creating a blend of nature and symbolic meaning. Italy, where Bossi was working, experienced a revival of interest in its Roman past at this time. The institutions of art at this time, such as the art academies, encouraged artists to study classical art and incorporate elements of the classic into their work. To understand drawings like this one more fully, we can turn to period pattern books and architectural studies. What's more, these resources can offer insights into how art both reflected and shaped the social values and cultural aspirations of its time.