Who painted Allegory of Sculpture?

Allegory of Sculpture was painted by Gerard van Houten in 1690.

Where can I see Allegory of Sculpture?

Allegory of Sculpture is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Allegory of Sculpture?

Allegory of Sculpture is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Allegory of Sculpture?

Museum-quality prints of Allegory of Sculpture are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Allegory of Sculpture

Gerard van Houten , 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.

Inscription: Inscribed:by artist, lower right in pen and brown ink: G. van Houten f.; by later hand, lower center verso in graphite: G van Houten f.; by later hand on mount, upper center in graphite: G van Humen; by later hand, lower right in graphite: B0011

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.