Monkey Supporting an Escutcheon, from the Top of a Balustrade or the Backrest of the Stadholder’s Chair in the Rolzaal in the Hof van Holland, The Hague 1511

This is a limewood sculpture, "Monkey Supporting an Escutcheon," carved by Joost Janszoon for The Hague's Hof van Holland. The monkey perches atop an ornate, classical-style pillar, clutching a shield. Its gaze is fixed, its mouth slightly open, as if in perpetual vigilance. The composition, with its hierarchical arrangement of base, monkey, and shield, suggests a rigid social order, a structure mirrored in the formal architecture of the Hof van Holland itself. Yet, the choice of a monkey, traditionally associated with mimicry and foolishness, introduces an element of destabilization. Is Janszoon subtly critiquing the very structures he adorns? Consider the shield, an emblem of power and lineage, here supported by a figure of potential mockery. The smooth, featureless surface of the shield contrasts with the monkey's detailed, almost grotesque features. This juxtaposition creates a visual discordance, challenging any singular interpretation. The interplay between form and symbolism invites us to question fixed meanings, and recognize that representations of power are always subject to interpretation and re-interpretation.