Decoratief ontwerp met putti met hoorn des overvloeds met een portret van Josephus Augustinus Brentano 1814

Adriaan de Lelie made this drawing, with pen in gray ink, in 1814. It celebrates Josephus Augustinus Brentano, a merchant and art collector in Amsterdam. We can read this image through the lens of the art market and the role of patronage in the Netherlands at the time. The putti, or cherubic figures, adorning Brentano's portrait with garlands and a horn of plenty, visually associate him with abundance and benevolence, suggesting his patronage enriches the arts. An easel in the background and an artist’s palette in the foreground further reinforce this theme of artistic creation and support. This drawing is a fascinating artifact for those interested in the social networks that sustained artistic production. Researching figures like Brentano and institutions such as the Rijksmuseum reveals the intricate relationships between artists, patrons, and the emerging art market of the 19th century. It highlights how the creation and reception of art are always embedded in specific social and economic contexts.