Study for The Battle of Waterloo c. 1824

Jan Willem Pieneman made this pencil drawing, ‘Study for The Battle of Waterloo’, in the early 19th century. It depicts a pivotal moment in European history, but it also shows how art became entangled with the making of national heroes. This sketch gives us a behind-the-scenes look at Pieneman's process, as he worked to capture the drama and glory of the battle. The work was commissioned for public display in the Netherlands, and it's interesting to note how Pieneman uses visual cues to shape the narrative. The focus on military figures, their weapons, and the implied violence speaks to the values of the time. The sketch highlights the political motivations behind history painting, and how it was used to cultivate a sense of national pride and unity in the wake of conflict. To fully understand the significance of this drawing, we might delve into the archives of the Dutch monarchy, exploring the commissions it made and the political motivations that shaped its patronage.