A groundbreaking retrospective of the works of Artus Quellinus, Amsterdam’s foremost sculptor of his time, has opened at the Royal Palace on Dam Square, aiming to restore his legacy and introduce him to a wider audience. King Willem Alexander inaugurated the exhibition, which features over 100 pieces on loan, adding to the thousands of Quellinus’s existing marble and bronze sculptures already adorning the palace.

The exhibition, titled “Artus Quellinus: Sculptor of Amsterdam,” showcases the artist’s remarkable talent and his significant impact on the city. The palace itself, originally Amsterdam’s town hall, stands as Quellinus’s magnum opus, a collaboration with architect Jacob van Campen that created a visually stunning space once considered the eighth wonder of the world.

Marjan Pantjes, one of the exhibition’s curators, emphasizes Quellinus’s pioneering role in introducing marble as a prominent artistic medium in Amsterdam. His sculptures, influenced by Michelangelo and Bernini, possess a lifelike quality that captivates viewers.

Born in Antwerp, Quellinus was mentored by Peter Paul Rubens, whose paintings are displayed alongside Quellinus’s sculptures in the exhibition to illustrate the connection between their artistic visions. The exhibition includes loans from international collections, such as the Leiden Collection in New York, which contributed a terracotta Lioness Suckling Her Cubs.

Other notable pieces include a large sculpture of St Peter from St Andrew’s Church in Antwerp and the intricate Child Bacchants Dancing and Playing Music. Quellinus drew inspiration from mythology, biblical narratives, and the natural world.

His masterpiece, the Tribunal, also known as The Night Watch of sculpture, is prominently featured at both the beginning and end of the exhibition. Located in the room where death sentences were pronounced in the 17th century, the Tribunal presents a series of moral stories about justice and punishment, highlighting the values of wisdom, mercy, and fairness.

The exhibition at the Royal Palace runs from June 18 to October 27.