Het tweede kwartier van het wapen van M.A. de Ruyter after 1677

This anonymous 17th-century relief sculpture, “Het tweede kwartier van het wapen van M.A. de Ruyter” from the Rijksmuseum depicts a heraldic crest, which is a type of coat of arms. The scene features a knight in armor mounted on a horse. The knight raises a sword in his right hand, while his left hand holds the reigns of the horse. The crest is adorned with a gold crown, signifying nobility or high social rank. This artwork, likely made after 1677, is a testament to the prestige and military prowess of the influential Dutch naval commander Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter.