Design for a sepulchral monument with a seated prophet or philosopher; verso: Sketches 1686 - 1724

Pieter Verbruggen the Younger sketched this sepulchral monument design with pen and brown ink in the late 17th century. The seated figure, perhaps a prophet or philosopher, engrossed in a book, anchors the composition. Consider the book—a potent symbol. In antiquity, it represented knowledge and wisdom, becoming especially powerful with the advent of Christianity and sacred scriptures. The act of reading, here, suggests deep contemplation, a turning inward. It is a pose reminiscent of ancient philosophers and biblical prophets alike. This motif of the contemplative figure reappears across centuries, evolving from representations of divine wisdom to emblems of human intellect. Think of Michelangelo’s pensive figures or even Rodin’s "The Thinker." It reveals a deep, collective desire to understand our place in the cosmos. The sepulchral context adds another layer, speaking to our enduring fascination with memory, legacy, and the afterlife. The image subtly reminds us of the cyclical nature of existence.