Vermählung eines buckeligen Paares in einem Empireraum bei Kerzenlicht 1786

Augusto Nicodemo’s drawing depicts a peculiar wedding scene inside an Empire-style room lit by candlelight. The bride holds a small dog. The canine motif is an ancient symbol for fidelity, present since the Roman times, often found in marriage effigies to denote marital loyalty and conjugal love. But observe, the dog here is small, almost like a lapdog. This is a far cry from Cerberus, guardian of the underworld, that also belongs to the canine family, and with whom the lapdog shares its atavistic roots. The dog has made its way through different artworks: from loyal attribute to ladies in paintings, to a symbol of vigilance and protection. Here, clasped tightly by the bride, it appears somewhat frivolous. The choice of this particular symbol adds a layer of psychological complexity, perhaps hinting at superficiality, or anxiety around the concepts of love, loyalty, and marriage. These are eternal motifs reappearing in endless variation through the epochs.