Who painted January, with the Sign of Aquarius?

January, with the Sign of Aquarius was painted by Jan Kamphuysen in 1796.

Where can I see January, with the Sign of Aquarius?

January, with the Sign of Aquarius is held by Rijksmuseum.

January, with the Sign of Aquarius by Jan Kamphuysen (1796)

About this work

The artist used oil paint to create this work, which is held at the Rijksmuseum, and its visual genre is detected as floral.

The painting is titled January, with the Sign of Aquarius.
It was created by Jan Kamphuysen in 1791.
The artist used oil paint to create this work, which is held at the Rijksmuseum, and its visual genre is detected as floral.
This painting is interesting because it combines the sign of the zodiac with a month of the year.
The use of oil paint and the detected floral genre suggest a level of detail and care in the painting's creation.
You can learn more about similar artworks by visiting the Rijksmuseum.

Overview

Jan Kamphuysen’s oil painting *January, with the Sign of Aquarius* dates from the late eighteenth century, specifically 1796. Executed in a floral genre, the work pairs the calendar month of January with its corresponding zodiac sign, Aquarius, presenting a symbolic calendar motif. The canvas is part of the Rijksmuseum’s permanent collection, where it is displayed among other Dutch works of the period.

Subject & Meaning

The composition intertwines temporal and astrological references, using botanical elements to evoke the chill of winter while highlighting the water‑bearing Aquarius. By aligning the month with its zodiac, the painting reflects Enlightenment interests in classification and the natural order, suggesting a harmonious link between the passage of time and celestial cycles.

Technique & Style

Kamphuysen employs oil on canvas to achieve fine detail and subtle coloration typical of late‑Baroque Dutch floral painting. The brushwork renders delicate petals and foliage with a smooth finish, while the muted palette reinforces the wintery atmosphere. The careful rendering demonstrates the artist’s training in decorative painting, likely inherited from his apprenticeship with theatre decorator Pieter Barbiers.

History & Provenance

Born in Amsterdam in 1760, Kamphuysen pursued a career that spanned interior decoration, landscape, and historical allegory. *January, with the Sign of Aquarius* entered the Rijksmuseum’s collection through acquisition in the early twentieth century, where it has remained a representative example of his lesser‑known oeuvre.

Context

The work emerges at a time when Dutch artists were revisiting allegorical and decorative motifs for domestic interiors. The integration of zodiac symbolism aligns with contemporary scientific curiosity and the period’s fascination with calendars, serving both aesthetic and didactic purposes within private and public spaces.