Huwelijk van Karel Christiaan van Nassau-Weilburg met prinses Carolina, 1760 1760 - 1761

In 1760, Tethart Philip Christian Haag created this drawing of the Marriage of Charles Christian of Nassau-Weilburg to Princess Carolina. The location is the Grote Kerk, or Great Church, in The Hague, Netherlands. Haag's drawing depicts an important social ritual, a royal wedding. In the 18th century, royal marriages were not private affairs but rather very public displays of power and alliance. The composition is organised to focus on the wedding ceremony itself but we can also see the architecture of the church, filled with onlookers, that also serves as a stage for this aristocratic spectacle. The artist has paid attention to details of clothing and architectural ornamentation. The drawing creates meaning through its visual codes. Haag’s drawing provides a glimpse into the social and institutional history of the Dutch Republic in the 18th century. To understand the significance of this event, historians consult a range of sources, including genealogical records and newspaper accounts. The drawing helps us explore questions about the public role of art and the social conditions that shaped artistic production.