Beeld van Pax (Vrede) op de voorgevel van het Stadhuis op de Dam 1663 - 1783

This image depicts a sculpture of Pax, or Peace, on the facade of Amsterdam's City Hall, captured in an engraving by Hubert Quellinus. The figure commands attention through its balanced composition and classical form. The goddess is rendered in fine lines, giving texture to her draped clothing, which subtly reveals the contours of her body. Note how she holds an olive branch in one hand and a caduceus, a symbol of commerce and negotiation, in the other. Quellinus skillfully uses these attributes to enhance the sculpture's symbolic meaning. Through signs and symbols the statue embodies multiple concepts. The use of Pax on civic architecture is a reflection of the cultural and philosophical aspirations of the time. The engraving method itself adds a layer of meaning, translating the three-dimensional sculpture into a two-dimensional image. The lines create a delicate play of light and shadow, emphasizing the formal qualities of the sculpture. The depiction becomes an enduring statement about peace and civic virtue.