Allegorical representation (on the victory)

About this artwork.

Jan Abel Wassenbergh (1689 - 1750) was a painter from Groningen in the eighteenth century. Wassenbergh first studied law, but because he prefers drawing and painting, university was not suitable for him. The young Wassenbergh took drawing lessons and traveled to Rotterdam in 1712 to be apprenticed to the famous Rotterdam painter Adriaan van der Werff. In 1715 he returned to Groningen and became successful as a portraitist, history painter and room decorator (making ceilings, mantelpieces and doorway decorations for the nobility of the city).

In 1729 Wassenbergh painted the Allegorical representation (on the victory). Depicted a seated female figure with a staff in her right hand. An angel holds a wreath over her head; on the left, standing, a woman with a sword in her right hand aimed at a wolf lying on the ground in front of her with open mouth. In the left hand an object in which one could see a broken muzzle. On the right a squatting woman with a compass near a globe (with animal figures), next to it a small child – presumably Cupid as a sign of love – and three floating angels at the top left.

Jan Abel Wassenbergh mainly painted history paintings - depictions of scenes from the Bible, mythology, literature or history - and portraits. The surviving works show that Wassenbergh was an important painter in his time. He painted both history paintings and portraits for the Groningen elite, including members of the Hora Siccama, Gockinga and Trip families. Many may know the name Wassenbergh from the Wassenberghstraat in the ‘Painters district’ named after him.

Facts & Figures.

• Artist(s)
  Jan Abel Wassenbergh

• Year of creation
  1729

• Dimensions (in cm)
  164x123

• Collection
  Town Hall Collection

• Technic
  Oil paint on canvas