Baroness Matilda Guiguer de Prangins in her Park at the Lake of Geneva 1779

Jens Juel painted the Baroness Matilda Guiguer de Prangins in her Park at the Lake of Geneva, capturing her amidst nature's embrace. Her shepherdess's crook, or staff, takes center stage, drawing our attention to the age-old pastoral theme. The staff, or "pedum," evokes images of shepherds from ancient Arcadia, embodying a simple, virtuous life amidst nature. Yet, here, it appears in the hands of an aristocrat, reimagined. We see this visual motif echoed through history—from classical sculptures of Hermes, whose caduceus symbolizes commerce and negotiation, to Christian art, where staffs appear in depictions of bishops. In Matilda’s hand, the staff reflects a longing for simpler times, a connection to nature celebrated during the Enlightenment. It is a symbol imbued with layers of meaning, shaped and reshaped by each new era. Perhaps, subconsciously, the Baroness herself is aware of her place in this ever-evolving dance of symbols, holding not just an object, but a piece of collective memory.