Artwork

Allegory of Flourishing State of the United Provinces

Allegory of Flourishing State of the United Provinces, by Jan Pietersz Saenredam, ink, 1602
Allegory of Flourishing State of the United Provinces, by Jan Pietersz Saenredam, ink, 1602

Allegory of Flourishing State of the United Provinces is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jan Pietersz Saenredam. It dates from 1602 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Jan Pietersz.

About this work

Overview

Jan Pietersz. Saenredam's 1602 engraving, Allegory of Flourishing State of the United Provinces, is a print on laid paper exemplifying the Northern Mannerist style.

Subject & Meaning

The engraving depicts a complex scene with numerous figures and animals, symbolizing the prosperity of the Dutch Republic in the early 17th century. Central to the composition is a horseman surrounded by others on foot and horseback, set against a backdrop of trees and water.

Technique & Style

Saenredam employed cross-hatching to achieve texture and depth, meticulously rendering details such as clothing folds, tree bark, and horse movement, showcasing his technical skill.

History & Provenance

Jan Pietersz. Saenredam was a multifaceted artist, also working as a painter and cartographer, and his son Pieter Jansz. Saenredam later gained recognition for detailed church interior paintings.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Jan Pietersz Saenredam

Artist

Jan Pietersz Saenredam

Jan Pieterszoon (abbr. Pietersz.) Saenredam (c. 1565 – 6 April 1607) was a Dutch Northern Mannerist painter, printmaker in engraving, and cartographer, and father of the painter of church interiors, Pieter Jansz…

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