Artus Quellinus

The name Artus Quellinus may no longer be a household name today, but in the seventeenth century he was regarded as the greatest sculptor of his time. ‘The light of sculpture in our age,’ wrote poet Joost van den Vondel about Quellinus. Quellinus created several sculptures for the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, including the iconic Atlas and various other sculptures and reliefs.

Quellinus is also known as the master of ‘living marble.’ His sculptures embody the softness of human skin and the flowing folds of fabric. From stone, he carved gods, saints, heroes, and intricate details from nature. The exhibition will bring impressive pieces that have never before travelled to Amsterdam, like Saint Peter from the Antwerp Saint Andrew’s Church, and the Pallas Athena from Museum Kurhaus Kleve.

Image: Artus Quellinus, Model without title.