Model for the Tomb Monument of Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Harpertsz Tromp (1598-1653) in the Oude Kerk in Delft

About this artwork

length 56 cm x depth 33 cm (recumbent figure)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite terracotta model, created by Dutch Baroque sculptor Rombout Verhulst 1654, is a preparatory design for the tomb monument honoring Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Harpertszp (1598-1653) in Delft's historic Oude Kerk. Framed in oak and standing 125 cm tall, it centers on a recumbent figure measuring 56 cm long and 33 cm deep, capturingp in eternal repose with lifelike detail and dignified poise. Tromp was a celebrated naval commander of the Dutch Golden Age, renowned for triumphs in the Eighty Years' War against Spain and the First Anglo-Dutch War. His heroic death at the Battle of Scheveningen in 1653 sparked national mourning, making this monument a symbol of maritime pride and remembrance. Verhulst, a master of funerary sculpture, crafted the final marble version nearby, elevating Delft as a hub for such grand commemorations. Terracotta's malleable quality was ideal for Verhulst's workshop process, allowing rapid modeling of drapery folds, anatomy, and architectural elements before committing to stone. This model not only reveals the sculptor's iterative genius but also offers visitors a rare glimpse into 17th-century artistic preparation, blending technical innovation with profound cultural reverence.