Artwork

The peace negotiation between Claudius Civilis and Quintus Petillius Cerealis on the demolished bridge

The peace negotiation between Claudius Civilis and Quintus Petillius Cerealis on the demolished bridge is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Ferdinand Bol. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The scene takes place on a demolished bridge, serving as a neutral ground for the diplomatic encounter between the two opposing commanders.

Ferdinand Bol's 1660 oil painting depicts the historical peace negotiation between the Batavian leader Claudius Civilis and the Roman general Quintus Petillius Cerealis. The scene takes place on a demolished bridge, serving as a neutral ground for the diplomatic encounter between the two opposing commanders. As an illustration of a peace process, the work visualizes the moment of reconciliation following the Batavian Revolt against Roman rule.

The composition focuses on the interaction between Civilis and Cerealis, highlighting the cessation of hostilities rather than the violence of the conflict itself.

Technique & Style

Executed in 1660, this work by Ferdinand Bol is an oil painting on canvas. The composition measures 122 cm in height and 112.5 cm in width. As a painted work from the mid-seventeenth century, it utilizes traditional oil pigments applied to a woven textile support, a standard practice for large-scale history paintings of the Dutch Golden Age. The piece is classified formally as a painting depicting a specific historical peace negotiation.

History & Provenance

The painting titled "The peace negotiation between Claudius Civilis and Quintus Petillius Cerealis on the demolished bridge" was executed by Ferdinand Bol in 1660 as an oil on canvas work. It entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display. The artwork measures 122 cm in height and 112.5 cm in width. Its creation is documented in the Rijksmuseum catalogue and matches the date recorded in contemporary sources.

Context

Ferdinand Bol's 1660 oil painting depicting the peace negotiation between Claudius Civilis and Quintus Petillius Cerealis on the demolished bridge, housed in the Rijksmuseum, has been studied within the context of Dutch Golden Age historical narratives. Scholarship emphasizes its role in illustrating political reconciliation themes prevalent in 17th-century Dutch art, particularly in works commissioned by civic authorities. The piece reflects Bol's engagement with historical subjects beyond his well-documented portraiture, situating it within broader discussions of narrative painting in the Dutch Republic.

Its composition and subject matter have been analyzed for their contribution to the visual documentation of colonial-era political processes, though specific critical reception details remain sparsely documented in extant sources.

Overview

This 1660 oil painting by Ferdinand Bol captures a pivotal moment of negotiation between Roman and Batavian leaders amidst a backdrop of destruction, specifically on a demolished bridge.

Legacy

As a work by a prominent pupil of Rembrandt, it contributes to the understanding of the master's influence on subsequent generations of Dutch painters, though its specific impact on art history is not broadly highlighted in available sources.