Artwork
Allegory of Freedom
Allegory of Freedom is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Johannes van Dreght. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Its surface retains the smooth finish typical of academic brushwork, with layered glazes that create subtle tonal transitions in the allegorical composition.
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, a conventional support for 18th-century European easel painting. The work measures 195 cm in height and 82 cm in width, dimensions recorded in the museum catalogue. Its surface retains the smooth finish typical of academic brushwork, with layered glazes that create subtle tonal transitions in the allegorical composition. The handling appears restrained, reflecting the controlled technique expected of formal allegory in the late Dutch school.
History & Provenance
Allegory of Freedom is an oil painting created in 1790 by Johannes van Dreght. The work measures 195 cm in height and 82 cm in width and is classified as an allegory. It belongs to the Rijksmuseum collection and remains on display there.
Allegory of Freedom is an oil-on-canvas painting housed in the Rijksmuseum, where it is catalogued under the accession number SK-A-2463. The work has been part of several exhibitions at the museum, most recently featured in the 2015 exhibition "Dutch Masters of the 18th Century" and previously included in the 1998 retrospective "18th-Century Allegories".
Overview
Allegory of Freedom is a 1796 oil painting by Johannes van Dreght, a Dutch artist known for decorative work on various objects. It is now part of the Rijksmuseum collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting is an allegory, symbolizing an abstract concept. A woman in classical attire stands beside a pedestal with a cherub and a laurel-wreathed bust, conveying a sense of reverence or tribute.
Artist & collection
Artist
Johannes van Dreght (11 November 1737, Amsterdam - 7 October 1807, Amsterdam) was a Dutch decorative painter; known for his work on fireplaces, carriages, yachts, sleds and fans.
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