Design for a sepulchral monument with an allegory of Time; verso: Architectural sketch and fragment of a letter 1686 - 1724

This is Pieter Verbruggen the Younger's "Design for a Sepulchral Monument with an Allegory of Time," an ink and red chalk drawing on paper. Verbruggen, born in Antwerp, spent his life navigating the complexities of artistic identity in the shadow of his father, a celebrated sculptor. This work, with its somber theme, resonates with the Baroque era's preoccupation with mortality. Allegorical figures were common in funerary art and served as a way of visualizing abstract concepts and cultural values. Time, often depicted as an old man, is a symbolic meditation on aging and the ephemerality of life. The artist's choice of a sepulchral monument suggests a reflection on legacy, tradition, and memory. The monument itself—grand and imposing, is a signifier of status. Perhaps Verbruggen was considering not only death, but the lasting impact one leaves behind.