Gedenkteken voor Johannes Hamelau 1804 - 1806

"Gedenkteken voor Johannes Hamelau" is an 1804-1806 etching by Dutch artist Hendrik Leffert Meyling (1757-1821). It depicts a monumental tomb with a profile bust of the deceased Johannes Hamelau, surrounded by allegorical figures. Angels, skulls, and a scythe symbolize death and mortality. The inscription details Hamelau's birth and death dates and includes a quote about the afterlife. This work exemplifies Meyling's mastery of the Neoclassical style, popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The etching's intricate detail and melancholic tone offer a glimpse into the Dutch artistic landscape of the period, conveying the prevailing fascination with death and the human condition.