Ontwerp voor een plafondschildering met allegorie op de vrede 1715 - 1798

This is Dionys van Nijmegen’s preparatory drawing for a ceiling painting with an allegory on peace. It features a central female figure, floating on clouds, likely Pax, the Roman goddess of Peace, surrounded by putti, cherubic children that evoke a sense of divine innocence and harmony. Note how the artist arranges these figures within a carefully structured composition, framed by trompe-l'oeil architectural elements. The symbolism here is both overt and deeply layered. The broken weapons on either side of the composition are a motif that recurs throughout the history of art. Think, for instance, of how instruments of war are discarded by Mars after being defeated by Venus in Botticelli's painting. The artist employs gestures and symbols that tap into our collective memory. The floating figures and divine light create a powerful force, engaging us on a subconscious level. This composition speaks to the cyclical nature of history. The aspiration for peace, the lament over war – these are recurring themes. They are a powerful visual language that transcends time.