I) Afbeelding van't Stadt Huys van Amsterdam 1665 - 1668

This is Jacob van Campen's architectural drawing of the Vierschaar, part of the Amsterdam Town Hall, created sometime in the 17th century. The Vierschaar was the room where capital sentences were pronounced, and the artwork reflects the values and ideals of the Dutch Republic during the Golden Age. Van Campen was deeply influenced by classical antiquity, which shaped his vision for Amsterdam's architecture and civic identity. His Town Hall was meant to reflect Amsterdam’s status as the new Rome of the North. This drawing showcases the sculptural program intended for the Vierschaar. Notice the allusions to justice and judgment depicted in the classical style, and reflect on how the cultural values are being projected onto an idealized past. The choice of classical imagery suggests an attempt to establish a lineage of justice and authority. The drawing is about power and its symbolic representation, and asks us to consider how civic spaces embody and communicate cultural values. How does the weight of history and tradition influence your experience?