Artwork

Allegory of Sculpture

Allegory of Sculpture, by Gerard van Houten, ink, 1690
Allegory of Sculpture, by Gerard van Houten, ink, 1690

Allegory of Sculpture is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Gerard van Houten. It dates from 1690 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Allegory of Sculpture is a drawing created by Gerard van Houten in 1690, executed in red chalk, pen and brown ink, and gray wash on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a seated woman carving a human head in stone, assisted by a putto holding a mirror to reflect her work. The scene is an allegorical representation of the art of sculpture.

Technique & Style

Van Houten employed a range of techniques, including cross-hatching, to achieve texture and depth. The combination of red chalk, ink, and gray wash creates a sense of volume and atmosphere, capturing the moment when the sculptor's chisel is poised.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.