Cornish Celebration Presentation Plaquette 1905 - 1906

This silver plaquette, crafted by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, presents a scene laden with classical and allegorical motifs. At its center, a flame burns atop a classical altar, flanked by architectural columns and a serene, sylvan landscape. An angel, reminiscent of antiquity, stands in attendance. The flame, an enduring symbol, speaks of enlightenment, purification, and the divine spark, echoing its presence in ancient Roman hearths and Greek temples. This potent symbol recurs across cultures, seen flickering in the eternal lamps of early Christian catacombs and blazing in Renaissance allegories, each time carrying a blend of hope, vigilance, and spiritual aspiration. Consider how the motif has been passed down through history. The flame’s symbolic power, rooted deeply in our collective psyche, taps into primal emotions. It serves as a powerful force, engaging viewers on a subconscious level and representing our innate yearning for illumination. The angel is a messenger, and also a guardian, an immortal idea that has survived for millennia. Thus, the flame's journey is a testament to its enduring resonance, a cyclical progression, resurfacing across time, evolving, and taking on new meanings.