Peacock in a Garden 

Mildred Anne Butler painted this watercolor, ‘Peacock in a Garden,’ capturing the bird at rest in a field of flowers. The peacock, a symbol laden with meaning, has traversed cultures and epochs, evolving in significance yet retaining its power. In antiquity, the peacock was associated with deities like Hera in Greece, embodying vanity and beauty. Yet, as it strutted into other cultural landscapes, such as early Christian art, it transformed into a symbol of immortality, its iridescent plumage echoing the all-seeing eyes of God. We see traces of this visual transformation in the art of the Italian Renaissance. The image of the peacock, like all powerful symbols, taps into our collective memory, stirring deep-seated emotions and associations. It’s a testament to the enduring power of symbols to evolve, adapt, and continue to captivate us across time.