Vergadering voorafgaand aan Bartholomeusnacht 1790

This etching, "Vergadering voorafgaand aan Bartholomeusnacht" or "Meeting before St. Bartholomew's Night", was created by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki, a prominent German artist, and is now held at the Rijksmuseum. The work depicts a tense gathering, alluding to the infamous St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of 1572. The massacre was a key event in the French Wars of Religion, during which thousands of Huguenots were slaughtered by Catholics. Chodowiecki, though German, engages here with a crucial episode in French history, a moment of religious conflict and political intrigue. The image creates meaning through its stark depiction of conspiratorial figures, set against the backdrop of ornate portraits and emblems, hinting at the clash between religious fervor and royal authority. Historical research, including contemporary accounts and political pamphlets, helps us understand how such events were interpreted and used in the service of later political and religious agendas. The image serves as a potent reminder of the social conditions that shape artistic production.