Allegory on the birth of Frederik Hendrik
1750
From the collection of Leiden University Libraries
1750
From the collection of Leiden University Libraries
Allegory on the birth of Frederik Hendrik is a 1750 by Aert, (1710-1792), Schouman, held at Leiden University Libraries.
Aert Schouman’s drawing shows gods and nymphs floating above a baby in a cradle. Red chalk, grey ink, and wash give soft shadows and bright highlights. The scene feels alive, like the figures might step out of the page. This isn’t just a fancy birthday card. The baby is Frederik Hendrik, born in 1627. Schouman lived a century later but painted him as a newborn, mixing myth with history. Want to see more? Look up the Museum of Ethnography.
