De zondvloed

About this artwork

geheel: hoogte 132 cm x gewicht (eigenschap) 432 kg

Art Historical Context

**De Zondvloed (The Flood)**, created around 1885 by Dutch sculptor Henri Teixeira de Mattos with anonymous collaboration, captures the dramatic Biblical story of Noah's flood in a striking Carrara marble sculpture. at 132 cm tall weighing a substantial 432 kg, this work measures approximately 67 cm in depth and features a base circumference of 210. cm, suggesting a monumental, multi-figure composition designed to evoke awe in a public or ecclesiastical setting. Teixeira de Mattos, active in the late 19th-century Dutch art scene, drew on classical traditions for his figurative sculptures, blending narrative drama with technical precision. Carrara marble, quarried from the Apuan Alps in Italy and prized since antiquity for its luminous white purity, lends "De Zondvloed" an ethereal yet enduring quality. Famous for masterpieces by Michelangelo like the *David*, this medium highlights the sculptor's mastery in carving fluid forms from unyielding stone—likely depicting turbulent waters, desperate figures, and divine judgment in high relief or freestanding groups. Its creation during the fin-de-siècle era reflects a lingering Romantic interest in epic, moral tales amid Europe's growing secularism. This piece invites visitors to ponder humanity's vulnerability and resilience, a timeless theme rendered in cool, veined marble that seems to ripple like floodwaters. A testament to 19th-century sculptural ambition, it bridges artistic heritage with spiritual reflection. (198 words)