Lutherse kerk te Rotterdam, ca. 1790 Possibly 1786 - 1825

Carel Frederik Bendorp’s drawing from around 1790, depicts the Lutheran Church in Rotterdam. The church itself, with its classical facade, speaks of Protestant austerity and the architectural language of faith. Yet, the weather vane atop the cupola is more than a mere direction indicator; it echoes the ancient symbol of the caduceus, the staff of Hermes, a symbol of commerce and negotiation. Here it marks a site of spiritual trade, and a meeting place for divine and earthly concerns. This emblem can be traced back to antiquity where it represented balance. Over centuries, this image has been reconfigured – appearing in contexts as diverse as medicine, heraldry, and alchemy. In Rotterdam, a city built on trade, it points to the merging of spiritual life with the commercial hustle of the port. How collective memory quietly infuses everyday symbols with deeper meaning!