Gipsmodel voor beeldhouwwerk op het Palais du Louvre: "Le Commerce et l'Agriculture" door Louis Léopold Chambard c. 1855 - 1857

This photograph by Edouard Baldus captures Louis Léopold Chambard's plaster model for the Louvre, titled "Le Commerce et l'Agriculture." Here, cherubic figures intertwine, embodying prosperity. The central figure, adorned with wings, gestures towards a symbolic representation of abundance. These figures evoke the classical putti, symbols of innocence and plenty, recalling the art of antiquity and the Renaissance. Consider the persistence of the winged figure throughout history, from ancient Greek depictions of Eros to Christian angels. Its recurrence speaks to a collective yearning for divine intervention, a hope for earthly blessings. The presence of these motifs suggests a deep-seated human desire for growth and prosperity, echoing through time and culture. These symbols, charged with the power of collective memory, resonate even now, connecting us to the universal and timeless aspirations of humanity.