Nis met beeld van staande vrouw 1772 - 1779

Jean-Baptiste Bichard made this drawing of a niche with a statue of a standing woman sometime in the 18th century. It's a design drawing, meaning it was made in preparation for building a real niche and statue. But who was this woman? And what was the purpose of placing her in a niche? If the statue is meant to be seen in a private home, it could show off the owner’s virtue and learning, or, if meant for a public building, inspire a new nation through civic virtue. These types of artworks were a part of the Neoclassical movement, which looked back to ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration. Neoclassical art often promoted Enlightenment ideas of reason, order, and progress, with the idea that studying and imitating classical art and architecture would encourage people to be better citizens. By studying Bichard’s drawing in light of the institutions and culture of his time, we can gain insight into the public role of art and the politics of imagery during the 1700s.