Gezicht op slot Rinkesta en herenhuis Räfsnäs 1670 - 1674

Nicolas Perelle’s print, "Gezicht op slot Rinkesta en herenhuis Räfsnäs," presents two Swedish estates, each a stage for symbols of power and prestige. At Rinkesta, we observe sundials; ancient symbols of time's dominion, floating above manicured gardens. Sundials remind us of mortality and cosmic order. They are visual echoes of classical antiquity. In the lower register, Räfsnäs displays a crowned coat of arms. A reminder of noble lineage and inherited authority. The shield is suspended, as if on display, and recalls ancient Roman triumphs, where shields were brandished to symbolize victories. Consider how the sundial, initially a scientific instrument, evolved into a memento mori. It is like a skull in a Dutch still life. This shift shows how symbols morph under cultural and emotional pressure. The coat of arms, initially a functional emblem, solidifies into a tool of psychological assertion. These images persist, passed down through history, each iteration subtly altered by collective memory and subconscious desires. As viewers, we are drawn into the cyclical progression of these motifs. Here they resurface, reborn in a new context, yet still resonant with echoes of the past.