Watercolor, Shipping Merchant's Interior

Date1783

Artist/Maker August Christian Hauck (d.1801)

OriginEurope, Netherlands, Rotterdam (probably)

MediumWatercolor on laid paper.

DimensionsOW: 16 1/4" OH: 12 3/4"; Image: 15 5/16" x 11 3/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1991-32

DescriptionWatercolor painting. This painting of a shipping merchant's office is rich with the details. The notation on the letter in the merchant's hand indicates that the scene is in Rotterdam. The merchant is seated wearing a blue banyan and tricorner hat. There are five other gentlemen conducting business about the shop amidst books, ledgers, and money. There are two chests behind and at the side of ther merchant, the later appears to be full of money. Decorating the office are two globes, two maps nailed directly to the wall, a statue of Mercury (messinger of the gods and god of commerce and travel), and four paintings that appear to be an allegory of the merchant's life. Also hanging on the wall are four identical images with four different names written on them. These are perhaps names of ships in the merchant's fleet.
MarkingsNone found