Festoenen met attributen van de personificaties van de elementen Lucht en Aarde aan oostzijde van de Burgerzaal in het Stadhuis op de Dam 1663

This drawing was made by Hubert Quellinus and features festoons with attributes representing the elements of Air and Earth. The composition is divided vertically into two distinct panels, each teeming with symbolic figures and motifs. On the left, we observe elements associated with air: cherubic figures, birds in flight, and swirling clouds, all rendered with delicate lines, evoking a sense of lightness. The opposite panel is densely populated with earthly symbols: fruits, flora, and fauna. The materiality is defined by fine lines, which create an intricate and almost ornamental quality. By contrasting the ethereal nature of air with the grounded solidity of earth, Quellinus engages with the classical concept of the four elements, reinterpreting it through a Baroque lens. The drawing serves not only as a decorative study but also as a meditation on the fundamental forces that shape our world. The artwork invites us to contemplate the elemental dichotomy and its impact on art and culture.