Inwijding van Felix Meritis, 1788 1799

Reinier Vinkeles made this print of the Inauguration of Felix Meritis in 1788. It commemorates the opening of the Felix Meritis Society in Amsterdam, a center for arts and sciences during the Dutch Enlightenment. The image presents a scene of enlightenment: intellectuals gather under a grand chandelier in an amphitheater designed for public lectures and discussions. In its time, the Felix Meritis Society embodied the progressive ideals of the Dutch Republic, promoting knowledge and civic engagement through public education. The architecture itself, with its classical references and emphasis on light and space, reflects the Enlightenment values of reason and order. But it's also worth noting who is included in the image - and who isn't. The society’s membership was limited to men of means. To understand this artwork fully, we can delve into archival records, architectural plans, and publications from the period.