Ontwerp voor een plafond met een allegorische voorstelling met Fama en Justitia 1680 - 1757

Mattheus Terwesten made this ceiling design featuring Fama and Justitia with pen in brown ink, and brush in grey, sometime in the 18th century. Though seemingly simple, the drawing carries immense symbolic weight. Pen and ink work is traditionally associated with preparatory sketches and studies, a means of generating ideas. Here, however, the monochrome palette focuses our attention on the skilled draftsmanship. Look closely, and you'll notice the subtle variations in line weight, the delicate hatching that suggests volume, and the fluid brushstrokes that evoke ethereal clouds. The choice of this modest medium is striking, given the grandeur of the intended subject. Ceiling paintings were typically executed in vibrant colors using fresco or oil paint, designed to impress viewers with their technical virtuosity. Yet Terwesten has stripped away the spectacle, offering a more intimate and intellectual experience. The final ceiling would have been realized by an army of laborers, but here, the creative process is distilled to its essence: the artist's hand, guided by intellect and imagination. This piece encourages us to look beyond the finished product and appreciate the artistry inherent in the initial act of creation.