Triton with a Crocodile and a Swan, Part of a Model for the East Tympanum of the Amsterdam Town Hall (now Royal Palace) at Dam Square c. 1650 - 1653

This is a model made by Artus Quellinus, for part of the east tympanum of the Amsterdam Town Hall, now the Royal Palace, at Dam Square. Amsterdam in the 17th century was a global trade center, so the Town Hall was designed to reflect the city's wealth and power. Quellinus’s sculpture depicts Triton, a sea god, amidst a crocodile and a swan. Triton, half-man and half-fish, blows a conch shell, symbolizing dominion over the seas, essential for trade and naval power. The crocodile, an exotic creature, represents the reach of Amsterdam's colonial ambitions, while the swan can be seen as a symbol of purity and grace. The ensemble thus speaks to the complexities of Dutch identity in a time of expansion and conflict. Reflect on how power is visualized here. How are colonial narratives and national pride interwoven? Consider the emotional tension between dominance and the natural world in this fascinating sculpture.