Poissons et algues, coq, écoinçon; paons et vigne; lièvres, chiens et ronces, bordure 1897

This is an ornamental panel designed by Maurice Pillard Verneuil, showcasing a symphony of natural motifs. Notice the peacocks and vines, symbols deeply rooted in cultural memory. Peacocks, emblems of immortality and pride since antiquity, strut amidst grapevines, evoking themes of fertility and abundance. Grapes, suggestive of both earthly pleasure and spiritual sacrament, weave a complex tapestry of meaning. Then, below, the chase unfolds with the hare and hound, mirroring the endless cycle of pursuit and capture. These motifs echo through artistic history, resurfacing in Renaissance tapestries and Baroque paintings. The peacock's display, a gesture of opulence, reminds one of the Roman emperors and their association with Juno, often depicted with peacocks. The hunt, a motif since ancient Greece, embodies the human struggle for survival, a primal drama played out across cultures. Such symbolic echoes invite us to unravel the layers of meaning embedded within our shared visual lexicon.