We also take on board the violent context of such creative exchanges: many of the objects on display at the The Loo Palace were financed with riches from the Dutch colonies in Asia & the Americas or stolen from these regions. Such violence enabled the courtly splendour of Dutch palaces like The Loo.

Our excursion is part of the module 'Creativity in the Early Modern City: Antwerp, Paris, and Amsterdam' @humanitiesuu.bsky.social that I coordinate and teach with @aronouwerkerk.bsky.social. The course explores transnational & global exchanges of creativity between French and Netherlandish cities.

Students studied themes of Artus' work relating to the Antwerp-Amsterdam connection, Rubens' influence on the city hall, and the violent colonial context of the building's decorations, featuring marble representations of spices, vegetables, and fruits from the Republic's colonies overseas.

One of the unique selling points of the exhibition is that it displays clay models of Artus' sculptures close to or even opposite the final product at the old city hall - produced in expensive marble, offering a unique insight into Artus' working method!

Little known until now is the obvious influence that Rubens - a family friend of the Quellinus family - has had on the young Artus. More than once Artus modelled his sculptures after Rubens' work!

My colleague @aronouwerkerk.bsky.social and I took students to the fantastic new exhibition at the city hall, now a royal palace, about this sculptor: Artus Quellinus (1609-1668).

We were warmly welcomed by conservator Marjan Pantjes.