Charles Auguste de Bériot speelt viool voor een gezelschap 1829 - 1897

Frederik Carel de Graaff made this watercolour called 'Charles Auguste de Bériot Plays the Violin for a Company'. It depicts a well-known violinist entertaining a small group in what appears to be a domestic interior. The image offers a fascinating window into the cultural values and social structures of the Netherlands during the 19th century. Notice how the architecture suggests a kind of rustic simplicity. The dress of the figures in the room reinforces the idea that this is a scene of middle-class domesticity rather than aristocratic luxury. The artist seems concerned with the social function of music, and the role of art in solidifying community. De Graff was connected to Felix Meritis, a society that focused on arts and sciences, which indicates the cultural context in which the picture emerged. By studying sources such as exhibition reviews, letters, and institutional records, we can learn more about the artist’s intentions and how contemporary audiences understood them. This can help us better understand the social conditions that shape artistic production.