Design for a Mantelpiece with the Arms of Bavaria(?) 1800 - 1900

This is a design for a mantelpiece with the Arms of Bavaria, likely created with pen and ink. The drawing presents a symmetrical frame, dominated by ornate details. The composition is structured around a central, rectangular void, flanked by supporting figures that merge into pilasters. These figures are depicted with classical features, yet they also possess a certain grotesque quality. The top of the frame is crowned with a complex arrangement of foliage, cartouches and what appears to be a scallop shell. In considering this design, the contrast between the implied weight of the supporting figures and the lightness of the decorative elements becomes apparent. The overall effect is one of tension between classical ideals of order and a baroque exuberance of form. This tension destabilizes any singular interpretation, inviting us to question the values and categories embedded within its representation.