Ridders met de familiewapens van Brandes en Hirschman 1770 - 1808

Jan Brandes made this watercolor titled "Ridders met de familiewapens van Brandes en Hirschman" sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. Two knights on horseback display heraldic symbols, asserting lineage and social status. But what does it mean to portray oneself as a knight in the Dutch Republic of this period? With its emphasis on civic virtue, the Dutch Republic had long rejected aristocratic titles and feudal traditions. Yet, the painting suggests a desire to connect with a romanticized, chivalric past. Perhaps this interest was linked to the economic power of Dutch merchants, who sought ways to express their status through visual symbols. As historians, we investigate such questions through archival research into family histories, social trends, and artistic patronage. Only then can we truly understand the complex relationship between art, identity, and society in the Dutch Republic.