Cupids in Bacchanalian scene 17th century

This is a small, ivory relief made by Lukas Faydherbe, populated by playful cupids engaged in a Bacchanalian revelry. The scene brims with symbols of abundance and uninhibited joy, like the ram carrying a child on its back, or the tambourine. The ram, a symbol often associated with fertility and virility, evokes the ancient rituals of Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy. Consider, too, the tambourine, a percussive instrument that appears in countless depictions of ecstatic dances from antiquity to the Renaissance. Its sound, capable of inducing trance-like states, transcends mere entertainment. Here we see a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. This image invites us to partake in a primal celebration of life, blurring the boundaries between the sacred and the profane, echoing through history, and resurfacing in new, ever-evolving forms.