Grafmonument van veldmaarschalk Christoph Dephicus von Dohnia en zijn vrouw 1674

This print, by Pieter Verbruggen the Younger, depicts the tomb monument of Field Marshal Christoph Dephicus von Dohnia and his wife. It gives us an idea of the original sculpture in marble. Notice how Verbruggen hasn't just recorded the facts of the monument, but also given us a real sense of the material. The print carefully describes the play of light on the stone’s surface. You can almost feel the cold, smooth touch of the marble. Consider the labor involved, the physical effort of quarrying, transporting, and carving such a grand form. In the 17th century, these processes were not yet mechanized. The choice of marble itself signifies wealth and status, mirroring that of the couple memorialized. By appreciating the skill and resources required to create this monument, we gain insight into the social hierarchy of the time, as well as the enduring allure of finely worked materials.