Twee wapenschilden naast elkaar 1625

This anonymous etching from 1625, titled "Twee wapenschilden naast elkaar" (Two Coats of Arms Next to Each Other), shows a detailed design for a coat of arms. The image depicts two shields flanking a central helmet with a crest, draped with a decorative cloth. This type of visual was popular in the 17th century and served as a blueprint for heraldic designs, representing the families or individuals they signified. The work's small size, measuring only 61 mm by 57 mm, suggests it might have been a personal design for a specific individual. The Rijksmuseum houses this intricate and detailed example of early 17th-century heraldic art.