Ruiter op staand paard in medaillon 1778 - 1838

Anthonie van den Bos made this small drawing of a rider on a horse sometime between the late 18th and early 19th century. The artist uses a delicate hand to depict the rider and his steed within a circular medallion. It was made during a time when Dutch society was undergoing significant change. The old Dutch Republic had crumbled at the end of the 18th century, and the Batavian Republic was established under French influence. The artist likely drew this image for a well-to-do member of Dutch society. Depictions of men on horseback are common in art history, and are usually meant to symbolize power, nobility, and wealth. The Dutch Republic’s wealth was in decline at this time; perhaps this image alludes to a longed-for past? Historical research into the artist's life, as well as the social and economic conditions of the time, can shed more light on the significance of this small but intriguing drawing.