Drie voetstukken met guirlandes en medaillon 1772 - 1779

Here is Nicolas Dupin's drawing of three pedestals adorned with garlands and medallions. Note the garlands, festoons of flowers and foliage, symbols of celebration and honor since ancient times. We can see that the Roman emperors adorned their triumphal arches with similar motifs. There they signified victory, peace, and abundance. Much later, in Renaissance paintings, garlands were often depicted around religious figures, signifying holiness. Consider the medallion motif, a circular or oval frame that usually holds a portrait. It’s a practice from the Roman Empire used to immortalize the emperor's image on coins. The garland and medallion serve as vehicles for collective memory. These symbols reemerge across centuries. They evolve in form, yet their core intention remains: to evoke emotion and commemorate, speaking to our subconscious desire for immortality. These motifs persist, subtly reminding us of the cyclical nature of history. They connect us to past generations.