Omlijstingen met hoorn des overvloeds en caduceus 1778

This drawing by Pierre Gabriel Berthault presents two decorative frames adorned with symbols of prosperity and peace. Observe the cornucopia, or horn of plenty, overflowing with fruits and flowers, and the caduceus, a staff entwined with snakes, often associated with commerce, negotiation, and medicine. The cornucopia, since ancient times, has been linked with abundance and well-being. We see it depicted in Roman art, held by deities symbolizing earth and fertility. The caduceus, initially a symbol of Hermes, the messenger of the gods, has taken on various meanings over time. Its association with medicine, though debated, reflects the human desire for healing and balance. These symbols speak to a collective yearning for prosperity, health, and harmony. Their recurrence in art across centuries reveals the persistence of these desires within the human psyche. They embody the interplay between conscious aspiration and the subconscious recognition of symbols, constantly reshaped by cultural experience and individual emotion. These emblems are part of a cyclical visual language, always transforming, yet forever echoing the past.