Wapen van Maarten Tromp, 1653 1653 - 1699

This anonymous engraving, "Wapen van Maarten Tromp, 1653", depicts the coat of arms of the Dutch admiral Maarten Tromp, a prominent figure in the Dutch Golden Age. The coat of arms, featuring a crowned helmet, two winged lions as supporters, and a shield depicting a ship with a fleur-de-lis above it, is a testament to Tromp's naval prowess and his role in defending the Netherlands against foreign powers. The inscription below the coat of arms, "Nobilitas sola est atque unica virtus", translates to "Nobility is only true virtue", further emphasizing the importance of bravery and honor in Dutch society. The engraving, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, offers a glimpse into the symbolic world of 17th-century Dutch heraldry and the legacy of a celebrated naval hero.