Academiegebouw te Leiden, ca. 1790 Possibly 1786 - 1825

Carel Frederik Bendorp made this watercolor of the Academiegebouw in Leiden around 1790. It offers a glimpse into the Dutch Republic and its intellectual life during a period of transformation. Leiden University, founded in 1575, was a pillar of humanist scholarship and a symbol of Dutch independence. Bendorp’s image presents a stately, yet understated view of the building, a red brick structure whose design merges civic and religious elements, reflecting the intertwined nature of Dutch society. The figures populating the foreground, dressed in the fashion of the late 18th century, offer a snapshot of the social classes who occupied and surrounded the university. This image, therefore, is not just an architectural study but a social document. Understanding its full significance requires exploring the archives of the University, and the civic records of Leiden to uncover the stories of the people who moved through this space, and the ideas that shaped their world.