Tuinbank in Marotstijl (rug) c. 1700 - 1750

This is the back of a garden bench made in an unknown time in the Marot style. The bench, or what remains of it, is from a time when gardens became displays of status, places for refined leisure. ‘Marot’ refers to the style developed by the French designer Daniel Marot. As a Huguenot, Marot fled France for Holland in 1685. There, he worked for William of Orange, introducing the opulent style of Louis XIV’s court. This aesthetic quickly became popular amongst the Dutch elite, who were eager to display their wealth and taste. The bench back, with its intricate carvings and imposing size, reflects this desire for ostentatious display. To truly understand this object, we need to examine not just its form, but also the social context in which it was created and used. Auction catalogs, estate inventories, and design books can help us piece together the story of this bench and the world it inhabited.