Memorial Tablet, with Geniuses of Death and Fame [reverse] c. 18th century

This memorial tablet was made by Jean Dassier, though the date remains unknown. Observe the circular composition, meticulously crafted from metal, where symmetry and allegory converge. The central inscription, commemorating the ‘Prince de Condé,’ is framed by architectural motifs and crowned by figures representing death and fame. On the left, a skull rests beside a contemplative cherubic figure, balanced on the right by another cherub heralding the Prince's legacy with a trumpet. The contrast between these symbols creates a visual tension, inviting reflection on mortality and memory. Dassier's formal arrangement invites us to consider the semiotic function of such commemorative objects. It's a cultural artifact designed not just to remember but to shape collective memory. The tablet, a study in how symbols can construct and convey meaning, remains open to interpretation.