Artwork Data

Title

Gevelbekroning

Artist

S. Severijn

Year

1882

Material

Natuursteen

Artwork Location

Address

Landgoed Marlot/Reigersbergen, Den Haag

City district

Haagse Hout

GPS data

52.100213480114, 4.3523109187713 View on map

To be found on route

65 years of Mariahoeve: playful reconstruction

Artwork Description

Text

That is a bit confusing. If you take a walk on the Marlot-Reigersbergen estate, you will come across a monumental relief with two ladies on either side of the Hague coat of arms at the end of the Grand Canal, surrounded by beautiful greenery. However, if you walk past the old town hall in the centre of The Hague, you will see a relief with what appears to be an identical representation on top of the façade on the side of the Kerkplein.

At Marlot's it turns out to be a copy of the relief on the old city hall. The Hague's first town hall was built on Groenmarkt in 1565. Between 1733 and 1739 a new wing was added on the side of the Grote Kerk by the famous architect Daniel Marot. The gable end in the middle is by the sculptor J.B. Xaverij (1697-1742). To the right of the coat of arms of the city, he depicted Justice with scales, and to the left Prudence with the usual mirror.

In 1882, the city council decided to expand the town hall again. This time the building gained a new wing on the side of Dagelijkse Groenmarkt. To crown this facade, stonemason S. Severijn was commissioned to make a simple copy of the relief by Xaverij. For example, the women are not wearing any attributes.

When in the 1970s the last extension was demolished to make way for the new council chamber by architect Zandstra, Severijn's relief was preserved on the recommendation of the director of the National Trust for Historic Buildings. Around 1980 it was moved to the Reigersbergen country estate where over the years it became dilapidated. When the municipality decided to renovate the estate, the façade crown was also restored. It was given a more prominent place. Since 2011, the restored relief has been located at the end of the canal. There, walkers can see it clearly from every angle.

Close