Monogram van Everhard Meyster

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2760

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the rich tradition of the Dutch Golden Age *Monogram van Everhardyster* is a delicate paper artwork by Everard Meyster (1607–1679), a multifaceted Amsterdam artist, poet, and avid art collector. Created sometime between 1630 and1679, this intimate piece measures just 144 mm high by 85 mm wide, showcasing Meyster's elegant monogram—likely a stylized rendering of his initials. Such monograms were personal signatures in an era when artists and collectors prized authentication and ownership. The artwork bears Lugt 2760, Meyster's own collector's mark, cataloged by Frits Lugt as a blind-stamped emblem he applied to his vast holdings of drawings and prints. This mark not only confirms provenance but highlights Meyster's role in Amsterdam's vibrant cultural scene, where connoisseurs like him amassed treasures amid the prosperity of the Dutch Republic. Paper as a medium was ideal for portable sketches and album entries, preserving quick, calligraphic flourishes that blended art with personal identity. This modest yet telling artifact offers a glimpse into 17th-century collecting practices, where monograms served as both artistic expression and proof of ownership, bridging the worlds of creation and curation. Visitors will appreciate its quiet elegance as a window into Meyster's scholarly life.