Verklaring van de prent van de hemelvaart van Hendrik Danielsz. Hooft, 1794 1794

This print from 1794, made by an anonymous artist, commemorates the ascension of Hendrik Hooft Danielsz. into heaven. We see Hooft being led to heaven by an angel, received by Van der Capelle and Goudoever on the clouds. To the right, allegorical figures of Patriotism, Meekness, Sincerity, and Charity, virtues attributed to Hooft, are depicted. In the distance is the Amsterdam City Hall, with a statue erected in Hooft's memory. To the left, a tomb symbolizes his passing, flanked by figures of Freedom and Gratitude. Ascension, tombs and virtue, the symbolic vocabulary is a classical trope, recurring throughout history. This composition reminds us of the entombment of Christ but also triumphant ascension images from antiquity. Here, Hooft is surrounded by symbols of virtue, patriotism, and remembrance, which have served to elevate figures in art from ancient times to the present day. It's a potent reminder of how we memorialize and idealize figures, constructing legacies through symbols and iconography.