Arkivism
A town square with a fair
Public domain

A town square with a fair

Jan Hendrik Verheijen · 1820 · paint; panel; paint (coating); oak (wood)

From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.

About this work

A fair or (annual) market on a large square in an urban environment, with centrally a pair of large stalls/temporary buildings where the public is shown on the podium of the left stall a company of 'exotic' dressed persons, including centrally a woman, in the background a black man or black face, a harlequin-like character and a quartet of uniformly colorfully dressed persons. Against the facade of the stall a poster/scroll painting with a horse on which a standing/balancing woman and on the right stall scroll paintings showing what can be seen inside: a panther/tiger, a group of monkeys in a tree, other animals and a group of South American characters, possibly marrons. The geographical setting cannot be interpreted and is very likely a fantasized setting where existing buildings, including the city castle at the Neude in Utrecht, can be seen.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own description
Credit lineA town square with a fair. 1820. Jan Hendrik Verheijen. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.

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