Painted Wall Hanging with Peace 1786

Jurriaan Andriessen painted this wall hanging with peace in the 18th century. The muted colour palette is immediately noticeable, dominated by a sepia wash, offset by the white of the fictive sculpture. The composition is strictly organized into horizontal registers, evoking a classical sensibility. Andriessen cleverly plays with illusion. The garland and monochrome relief above suggest a three-dimensional frieze, while the figure below is rendered as a faux-marble statue within a niche. The surface is carefully painted to mimic different textures, enhancing the trompe-l'oeil effect. The artist's structural approach creates a hierarchy of symbolic forms. The upper relief illustrates a scene of domestic tranquility, while the central figure embodies peace. This aesthetic creates a world of idealized forms but it also operates on another level. The use of classical motifs and the emphasis on balance and order might reflect the philosophical currents of the Enlightenment, which valued reason, harmony and an idealised past.