De Schotse Kerk en Luthers Weeshuis te Rotterdam 1790

Jan Bulthuis rendered 'The Scottish Church and Lutheran Orphanage in Rotterdam' with pen in gray ink, sometime in the late 18th century. The drawing's meticulous lines and delicate shading evoke a serene urban tableau. The buildings stand as stoic masses, their architectural details rendered with precision. The composition relies on a calculated arrangement of forms. The church, with its symmetrical facade, dominates the view, while the orphanage, slightly to the right, provides a contrasting verticality. Bulthuis uses linear perspective to guide the eye, creating depth and spatial coherence. Note how the figures, scattered across the square, are dwarfed by the architecture, emphasizing the imposing nature of these institutions. The limited tonal range contributes to the drawing's subdued atmosphere, lending a sense of timelessness. Through the artwork’s formal qualities, Bulthuis invites contemplation of the relationship between civic space, institutional power, and the individual, capturing the quietude of Rotterdam’s urban landscape.