Studie til maleriet af generalkonsul Pingels døtre 1792 - 1794

Jens Juel rendered this preparatory sketch in sanguine chalk for his painting of General Consul Pingel’s daughters. The young woman is shown holding up the hem of her dress, which cradles a cascade of flowers. The image of a woman with a flower-filled apron or dress is rich in symbolism. It evokes associations with classical figures of fertility and abundance such as Flora. We see it echoed in Botticelli's "Primavera" and, later, in Rococo paintings where women in flowing dresses gather flowers, embodying grace and fecundity. Even in later Pre-Raphaelite works, such as Waterhouse’s Flora, we see this motif resurface. This gesture has become a potent symbol of renewal and beauty in our collective memory. It triggers a subconscious recognition of life's cyclical nature. The emotion this image conveys, of youthful optimism, connects us deeply to the symbolic language of art across centuries. The motif continues to evolve, as it resurfaces, echoing through time and taking on new meanings.