Identificatie van de portretten op het schilderij De Tekenzaal van de Maatschappij Felix Meritis te Amsterdam 1822

Hendrik Willem Caspari made this pen drawing, Identificatie van de portretten op het schilderij De Tekenzaal van de Maatschappij Felix Meritis te Amsterdam, at the end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century. Felix Meritis was a society in Amsterdam dedicated to the arts and sciences, and this drawing depicts a life drawing class in progress. We see men of various ages and social standing gathered to study and copy the nude model at the center. The drawing provides a glimpse into the social and intellectual life of the Netherlands during a period of political and economic change, from the Batavian Republic, through the Napoleonic Kingdom of Holland, to the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. These institutions sought to promote enlightenment ideals and foster civic engagement. To understand this drawing better, we can consult archives that contain the records of the Felix Meritis society. This will enable a more nuanced interpretation of its significance within the cultural landscape of the time.