Allegorie op den dood van Bilderdijk, 1831 1832

This etching by Jan Baptist Tetar van Elven, titled "Allegorie op den dood van Bilderdijk" (Allegory on the death of Bilderdijk), depicts the death of the prominent Dutch poet and scholar Willem Bilderdijk in 1831. The scene is set in a classical-inspired interior, with a central figure lying on a bed, surrounded by mourning figures. Above, a figure ascends to heaven in a ray of light, symbolizing Bilderdijk's journey to the afterlife. This artwork, now in the Rijksmuseum, offers a glimpse into 19th-century Dutch art and its focus on historical figures and symbolism.