Stable Wall of Breda Castle c. 1620

Melchior van Herbach’s "Stable Wall of Breda Castle" presents a compelling array of architectural symbols in brick and stone. The arches above the windows and doors, repeated across the wall, are a motif that stretches back to antiquity. From triumphal arches in Rome to the arched portals of Renaissance palaces, this architectural form has symbolized power and dominion. But, in its repetition here, it is tempered, domesticated. The arches might evoke a sense of shelter and enclosure. We see this form mirrored in the naves of cathedrals designed to convey a sense of security to the viewer. There is a play between grandeur and intimacy. The ordered, repeating structure of the wall suggests stability. Yet, this regularity also hints at the subtle human desire to contain chaos and maintain a psychological equilibrium. The symbols on the wall resonate through the ages, reflecting a continuous dialogue between past and present.