Ontwerp voor een vijfarmige kandelaber gedecoreerd met adelaar 1738 - 1749

This engraving shows a design for a five-armed candelabra by Gabriel Huquier, dating back to the 18th century. The elaborate design, intended for royalty, reflects the opulence of the era, a period marked by the concentration of wealth and power. Note how the candelabra is adorned with an eagle and a cherubic figure, motifs that were often used to convey messages of power, divinity, and authority. The eagle in particular, a symbol of the Roman Empire, and later adopted by other European monarchies, suggests a desire to align the monarchy with the grandeur and perceived legitimacy of past empires. Consider the context of the Enlightenment, where the concept of divine right was being questioned, even as the monarchy sought to reinforce its image through displays of power. While the piece speaks to the aspirations of the monarchy, it also provides us with insight into the socio-political tensions that were simmering beneath the surface of 18th-century Europe.