Tekenzaal in Felix Meritis, 1789 1801

Reinier Vinkeles's 1801 etching "Tekenzaal in Felix Meritis" depicts the drawing room of the Felix Meritis society in Amsterdam. This detailed scene, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, showcases a group of individuals engaged in artistic pursuits. The central figure, a young man, is seated on a bench, intently studying a plaster cast of a classical sculpture, a testament to the neoclassical aesthetic popular at the time. The room itself is filled with other artists, models, and art supplies, creating a vibrant snapshot of artistic activity during this period.