The Drawing Gallery of the Felix Meritis Society
Rijksmuseum

The Drawing Gallery of the Felix Meritis Society

1801

CC0 — Public Domain
Rijksmuseum

Founded in 1777, the Amsterdam society called Felix Meritis (‘Happy through Merit’) grew into the cultural centre for the upper middle class. It had five depart-ments: commerce, natural science, music, literature and drawing. The drawing gallery could accommodate about sixty artists for life drawing classes in both daylight and lamplight. De Lelie, seated on the podium, looks out at us.

🔒
Order museum-quality prints

Sign in to order prints, canvas, and more of this work. Browsing and full-resolution downloads stay free.