Horlogekast, medaillon en rand met bloemen 1661 - 1726

This is a design for a clock case, medallion and floral border by an anonymous artist. Note the central image, where a figure ascends amidst a throng of onlookers. This ascension motif, a powerful symbol of spiritual elevation, echoes through centuries and cultures. From the ascension of Christ in Christian art to the apotheosis of emperors in Roman sculpture, we see this same reaching toward the divine. Consider how the upward gaze of the figures below, a gesture laden with longing and reverence, mirrors similar poses found in Renaissance paintings of the Assumption. The collective memory embedded in such images taps into our subconscious. The yearning for transcendence is not merely a religious concept, but a deep-seated human desire to overcome earthly limitations. This resonates with the viewer on a visceral level, triggering a sense of awe and perhaps even a touch of melancholy for what lies beyond our grasp. The design reminds us of the non-linear, cyclical journey of symbols, resurfacing and evolving across time, each era imbuing them with new layers of meaning, forever changing the perception of the symbol itself.