Gedachtenisbeker ter ere van het 50-jarig jubileum van Marcellus Emants - Isaac Weissenbruch

A detailed lithograph by Isaac Weissenbruch depicting an ornate commemorative cup presented to Marcellus Emants in 1853.

This lithograph by Isaac Weissenbruch depicts a commemorative cup, or gedachtenisbeker, crafted to honour the 50-year tenure of Marcellus Emants as steward of the Burgerweeshuis and the Fundatie van Renswoude in The Hague. The work functions as a precise technical record of the object, capturing the elaborate metalwork and sculptural elements that define the piece.

The cup features a complex design, incorporating classical motifs and heraldic symbols. The central body of the vessel is adorned with oval medallions, one of which bears an inscription dedicated to Emants, dated 1853. Flanking these medallions are figures and decorative scrollwork, demonstrating the high level of craftsmanship expected in nineteenth-century commemorative gifts. The lid is topped with small figures, adding a narrative dimension to the object's form.

Weissenbruch employs a clean, precise line quality to delineate the structure of the cup, from the ornate base to the detailed finial. The composition is balanced and symmetrical, reflecting the formal nature of the commission. The artist uses subtle shading to suggest the metallic texture and three-dimensional volume of the object against a neutral background. This print provides a clear view of the decorative programme, which includes lion heads, foliage, and coats of arms, typical of the period's preference for historical revival styles. As a document of Dutch social history, the print preserves the visual details of an object that celebrated a significant professional milestone for a prominent administrator in The Hague. The work is a study in both industrial design and commemorative art, showing the intersection of functional object-making and artistic representation.