Gipsmodel voor een friesversiering op het Palais du Louvre c. 1855 - 1857

This plaster model for a frieze decoration at the Louvre, captured by Edouard Baldus, presents a fascinating study in classical motifs. Note the mask of a river god or perhaps Oceanus, flanked by stylized acanthus leaves. These elements, deeply rooted in antiquity, speak to the enduring power of classical forms. The mask, with its flowing beard and intense gaze, is a direct descendant of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture, emblems of authority and power. We see this recurring image, the 'pathos formula' of the river god, in countless fountains and architectural decorations across Europe. Over time, the river god, initially a symbol of nature’s untamed power, began to embody civic pride and control over natural resources. The persistence of this motif reveals a collective memory at play, our subconscious drawn to the emotional intensity and symbolic weight of these classical forms. This is more than mere decoration; it’s a psychological bridge connecting us to the past.