Saucer with insects, flower sprays and grapevines c. 1797 - 1798

This small saucer, decorated with insects, flower sprays, and grapevines, captures the fascination with the natural world during its time. Insects, often seen as symbols of transformation and the ephemeral nature of life, are rendered here with meticulous detail. Butterflies, for instance, have long been associated with the soul. Recall the ancient Greek word "psyche" which means both butterfly and soul, a connection that flutters through centuries of art and thought. Consider the symbolic weight of grapevines. They appear in ancient Dionysian rituals and Christian iconography alike, embodying themes of fertility, abundance, and spiritual transformation. The presence of these natural motifs engages us on a subconscious level, echoing primal connections to the rhythms of nature and our own fleeting existence. It is this dance between microcosm and macrocosm that continues to captivate and resonate.