Two Men with Mercantile Wares, after a Model for the West Tympanum of the Amsterdam Town Hall (now Royal Palace) at Dam Square c. 1652 - 1653

This terracotta relief sculpture, "Two Men with Mercantile Wares," was created by the Flemish sculptor Artus Quellinus the Elder between 1652 and 1653. The sculpture depicts two men engaged in a lively exchange, with one reaching out towards the other, perhaps offering goods. The detailed rendering of the figures and the use of a low relief style create a sense of dynamism and realism, characteristic of Quellinus' work. This model, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, was originally intended for the West Tympanum of the Amsterdam Town Hall, now the Royal Palace. It provides a glimpse into the grandeur and artistic aspirations of the city during the Dutch Golden Age.