Ontwerp voor kamerversiering met een paneel met een buste 1767 - 1823

Abraham Meertens made this design for room decoration with panel and bust, using pen and gray ink, and graphite. Though seemingly traditional, Meertens' drawing offers a glimpse into the changing aesthetics of the late 18th century. The drawing depicts a room's interior, complete with classical columns, and a draped alcove housing a sculptural bust. Meertens meticulously renders the textures of the marble and fabric, emphasizing their weight and form through careful shading. The bust, framed by the alcove, is adorned with what seems to be military horns, and Masonic symbols, perhaps alluding to valor and brotherhood. The design incorporates an empty panel beneath the sculpture, ready to receive an inscription or image, as the artist uses traditional fine art materials to depict the neoclassical style. But consider this: the design anticipates a whole industry dedicated to realizing such interiors for an emerging middle class. This drawing isn't just art; it’s a proposal, a plan for transforming domestic space and, by extension, social life.