Allegorische voorstelling ter gelegenheid van het huwelijk van Adriaan van Maten en Maria van Vollenhoven 1721

This engraving was created by Bernard Picart, likely in the early 18th century, to commemorate the marriage of Adriaan van Maten and Maria van Vollenhoven. The image is an allegory, using classical figures and symbols to represent the union. Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, is central, presiding over the ceremony. The setting, with its architectural elements and lush greenery, evokes a sense of idyllic harmony, reflecting the hopes and ideals associated with marriage within Dutch society at the time. Family crests are at the top of the work, reinforcing the importance of lineage and social standing in marriage. Engravings like these, circulated among the educated elite, served as both personal mementos and public declarations of social status. To fully understand this work, we would need to consult genealogical records, historical accounts of Dutch social customs, and perhaps even the personal papers of the families involved. It’s through this kind of research that we can appreciate how art is deeply interwoven with the social fabric of its time.