Reliëf met Arion op de dolfijn boven de deur naar de Assurantiekamer in het Stadhuis op de Dam 1663 - 1783

This relief with Arion on the dolphin by Hubert Quellinus was placed above the door to the Insurance Chamber in the Town Hall on the Dam. Quellinus worked during the Dutch Golden Age, a period when the Netherlands was at the forefront of global maritime trade. Here, Quellinus captures the Greek legend of Arion, a musician rescued at sea by a dolphin. This choice speaks volumes about the values of the Dutch Republic. Arion, naked but for a cloak, sits astride the dolphin, lyre in hand, his expression serene as a ship sails safely in the background. The tale is not just one of rescue, but of the power of music and harmony to bridge divides—a theme that mirrors the Republic's own aspirations for social cohesion and economic prosperity through trade. The image invokes a sense of hope during a time of high stakes, when overseas travel and the growth of trading was fraught with risk. The image is not merely decorative but a potent symbol of hope and safety amid the uncertainties of maritime trade.