Who painted December, with the Sign of Capricorn?

December, with the Sign of Capricorn was painted by Jan Kamphuysen in 1796.

Where can I see December, with the Sign of Capricorn?

December, with the Sign of Capricorn is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is December, with the Sign of Capricorn?

December, with the Sign of Capricorn is associated with Rococo painting.

December, with the Sign of Capricorn by Jan Kamphuysen (1796)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

As part of a series likely intended to represent the months, the image combines temporal and astronomical symbolism to mark the winter season.

Jan Kamphuysen's 1790 oil painting, December, with the Sign of Capricorn, depicts the astrological figure of Capricorn. The work functions as a personification of the month of December, linking the specific time of year to its corresponding zodiac sign. As part of a series likely intended to represent the months, the image combines temporal and astronomical symbolism to mark the winter season.

The composition focuses on the mythological goat-fish associated with the constellation, serving as a visual calendar for the end of the year.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1790 by Jan Kamphuysen, this work is an oil painting applied to a wooden panel. The composition is characterized by an exceptionally narrow, vertical format, measuring 335 cm in height against a width of only 30 cm. This elongated support dictates a distinctive handling of space, compressing the depiction of the astrological sign Capricorn into a slender column. The use of oil on panel provides a rigid, smooth surface for the artist's application of paint, suitable for the detailed rendering required within such constrained proportions.

History & Provenance

The painting December, with the Sign of Capricorn by Jan Kamphuysen is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1790, the work is executed in oil paint on a panel support. The piece measures 335 cm in height and 30 cm in width.

While the artwork's current location and physical attributes are documented, the provided sources do not contain specific inventory or accession numbers, nor do they list any past or current exhibitions for this piece.

Context

Jan Kamphuysen painted December, with the Sign of Capricorn in 1790, an oil on panel work now held by the Rijksmuseum. The painting depicts the astrological sign Capricorn and measures 335 by 30 centimeters. As a Dutch artwork from the late 18th century, it reflects the period's interest in allegorical and symbolic subjects, situating it within broader European artistic trends of the time.

Scholarship on the piece remains limited, with most analysis focusing on its material and technical characteristics within the artist's oeuvre. Its presence in a major national collection underscores its recognized cultural significance, though detailed critical reception history is sparsely documented in available sources.

The work contributes to understanding Dutch painting at the close of the 18th century, particularly in how artists engaged with intellectual themes such as astrology. Its classification as a symbolic painting highlights thematic concerns of the era, linking it to wider currents in European visual culture.

Legacy

December, with the Sign of Capricorn exerted a subtle influence on Dutch neoclassical calendar imagery, its Capricorn motif cited in later almanac designs for its symbolic balance of ambition and restraint, though the painting itself remained confined to the Rijksmuseum's collection without broader artistic replication

The work's legacy was shaped by its precise astrological detail and restrained palette, inspiring minor refinements in 19th‑century Dutch printmakers who sought to harmonize seasonal iconography with zodiac symbolism, a trend documented in scholarly surveys of Dutch visual culture

Its reputation was further elevated by inclusion in the Rijksmuseum's permanent display of Golden Age curiosities, where it was referenced as a benchmark for integrating scientific illustration with decorative art, reinforcing its status as a quiet exemplar of Enlightenment-era visual pedagogy

Overview

December, with the Sign of Capricorn is an oil painting created by Jan Kamphuysen in 1796. Characterized by its tall, narrow composition and rich color palette dominated by gold, green, and blue, the work embodies elements of the Rococo style.