Design for a sepulchral monument; verso: Design for a monument

Art Historical Context

This exquisite drawing, attributed to Pieter Verbruggen Younger, Michiel van der Voort or an anonymous Flemish artist of the late 17th–early 18th century showcases preparatory designs for grand sepulchral monuments—elaborate tombs likely intended for churches or noble chapels. The recto features a detailed composition with human figures, soaring architecture, and symbolic elements typical of Flemish Baroque sculpture, evoking solemnity and grandeur. Flipping to the verso reveals another monument design, highlighting the iterative creative process in artists' workshops. Crafted on a modest 8¼ × 6⅛-inch sheet, the work employs a rich mixed-media technique: pen and brown ink over red and black chalk (or graphite), enhanced by brown and brownish-yellow washes for depth and shadow. These methods, common among Flemish sculptors, allowed precise planning of three-dimensional forms, bridging the gap between sketch and marble reality. During this era, Antwerp's vibrant guild system fostered such collaborative designs, blending sculpture with architecture amid the Catholic Counter-Reformation's emphasis on ornate memorials. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (purchased with the Charles and Jessie Price Gift in 2010), this sheet offers a rare glimpse into the artistry behind Flanders' opulent funerary monuments, where human figures animated eternal tributes to the deceased.

About the Artist

Pieter Verbruggen the Younger|Anonymous, Flemish, 17th century|Michiel van der Voort (Flemish|Flemish|Flemish) · 1648 |1600 |1667 –1691 |1700 |1737

Flemish, Antwerp 1648–1691 Antwerp| |Flemish, 1667–1737