Hugo de Groot (1583-1645)

About this artwork

fabrieksmerk, voetstuk, geschilderd in onderglazuurblauw: M.O.L. met ster

Art Historical Context

This elegant porcelain bust portrays Hugo de Groot (1583–1645), the renowned Dutch jurist, philosopher, and statesman whose writings laid foundational principles for international law. Created around 1782–1784 by the Manufacture Oud-Loosdrecht, the piece captures Grotius more than a century after his death, reflecting the late-eighteenth-century Dutch interest in celebrating national intellectual heroes during the Enlightenment era. Crafted in fine porcelain and marked on the base with the factory’s underglaze-blue “M.O.L.” and star, the sculpture exemplifies the refined techniques of Dutch p...