Battle for the Gold Staff (Dominion of the World) by Adam Willaerts

Battle for the Gold Staff (Dominion of the World) c. 1615 - 1630

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adamwillaerts

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gouache

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incomplete sketchy

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painted

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possibly oil pastel

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oil painting

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underpainting

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pastel chalk drawing

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painting painterly

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watercolour illustration

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watercolor

Adam Willaerts' "Battle for the Gold Staff (Dominion of the World)" is a maritime painting that depicts a dramatic scene of a naval battle. The painting, created between c. 1615 - 1630, showcases Willaerts' mastery of depicting naval combat and the vastness of the sea. The scene is set on a rocky shore, where a group of figures watch the battle unfold in the distance, their expressions conveying a sense of tension and anticipation. Willaerts' attention to detail is evident in the meticulous depiction of the ships, the churning waves, and the rocky coastline, adding to the realism of the scene. This painting provides an excellent example of Willaerts' expertise in capturing the grandeur and the danger of maritime warfare.

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rijksmuseum's Profile Picture
rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

Two gentlemen vie for control of a gold staff. It symbolizes dominion over the world’s seas. For whoever rules the sea, controls trade, beggars his foes, and becomes rich himself. The man at the right stands for the Netherlands, the one at the left for Spain. The men next to them personifying England and Venice, among other nations, look on in suspense. The scene in the background, the Republic’s naval victory at Gibraltar in 1607, seems to predict who will triumph.

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