Piece 1857 - 1860

This "Piece" was crafted by Léon Marcotte, featuring a dense arrangement of floral and fruit motifs. Flowers have always been more than just pretty decorations. Throughout history, we see them in various contexts representing fertility, death, love, and rebirth. The specific flowers here, and the addition of grapes, cherries, and pea pods, are motifs that can be traced back to classical antiquity. Think of the Roman frescoes, where vines laden with grapes symbolized abundance, and were associated with the gods of wine and fertility. The same symbols reappear in Renaissance paintings, often subtly woven into the background to enrich the narrative with layers of meaning. These symbols, though changed in appearance, have a psychological power to stir something primal within us. It is not a linear progression, but a spiral, with motifs resurfacing, transforming, and acquiring new resonance with each turn.