Kwitantie voor een sculptuur Possibly 1838

This is a receipt for a sculpture made in 1830, by Maximiliaan Louis Marie baron Van Hangest d'Yvoy, a member of the Dutch aristocracy. Considered within its historical context, this unassuming document speaks volumes about the structures of patronage and artistic production in the 19th century. Van Hangest d'Yvoy, as a baron, occupied a privileged position in society, one that afforded him the means to commission artworks. The receipt itself acts as evidence of this social dynamic, documenting a financial transaction between an artist or artisan and their aristocratic patron. Receipts like these provide valuable insights into the economic realities of artistic creation, revealing who had the power to support and shape the art world. This piece is a testament to how deeply intertwined art and social class really are.