Amsterdam celebrates its golden age sculpture master

As part of the celebrations marking 750 years since the founding of the Dutch capital, the city will unveil an exhibition dedicated to Artus Quellinus, the 17th-century "Sculptor of Amsterdam," starting Wednesday.

Virtually unknown outside of Flanders, where he rose to prominence, Quellinus is credited with the magnificent decorations of the Royal Palace that dominates the iconic Dam Square.

Dutch art historian Bieke van der Mark remarked that Quellinus "lifted our sculpture to a new level" with his innovative style.

Born in Antwerp in 1606, Quellinus worked with marble, ivory, and clay. His style, heavily influenced by Flemish baroque painter Rubens, was a refreshing change for the Protestant Netherlands, which was accustomed to a more austere aesthetic.

His subjects—mythological figures, cherubic angels, and animals—echo the great masters he must have encountered during his apprenticeship in Rome.

"Like 17th-century Italian master Gian Lorenzo Bernini, he masters the portrayal of flesh and hands," Van der Mark noted, pointing to a striking statue of Saturn devouring his son.

This retrospective, organized by the Amsterdam Royal Palace and the Rijksmuseum, is the first of its kind dedicated to Quellinus, featuring over 100 works from both national and international collections.

Curator Liesbeth van Noortwijk shared, "We spent considerable time selecting and gathering these exceptional pieces to showcase Quellinus at his best. He is an artist who truly deserves this recognition."

"We dare to call him the 'Bernini of the North,' and I believe that’s no exaggeration," she added.

The Royal Palace of Amsterdam, originally built as a town hall between 1648 and 1665, remains Quellinus's signature work, highlighted by the iconic figure of Atlas bearing the world on his shoulders.

Now, nearly 400 years later, the city hopes this exhibition will bring much-deserved recognition to the remarkable "Sculptor of Amsterdam."