[9] These Confraternities were usually organized according to the merchant's or shipowner's trade relations, e.g. with Lübeck, the Netherlands or Poland[7] and gathered the local elite - members of aristocracy and wealthy bourgeoisie.
In the 17th century librarians presenting books printed in Gdańsk appeared there, as well as painters with their art; the banning order for other tradesmen did not apply to them.
It was reconstructed few years later, and in 1552 a new façade was constructed which was once more rebuilt in 1617 by Abraham van den Blocke in the style of Dutch Mannerism.
The most famous ones are, among others, the works by anonymous artists from the late 15th century - Siege of Marienburg, The Ship of the Church, Orpheus among animals by Hans Vredeman de Vries from 1596 and Last Judgment by Anton Möller.
The last painting caused much controversy, as the artist has used the scenery of the city and depicted some significant figures of the period as allegorical characters, such as Pride or Faithlessness.
The hall was decorated not only with paintings but also tapestries, ship models, armours, coats of arms, or a cage with exotic birds.
It is covered with 520 tiles[15] depicting the greatest European leaders, both the Protestants - supporters of the Schmalkaldic League, and the Catholics, among which are portraits of Isabella of Portugal and Charles V. The Artus Court was designed as an exclusive meeting venue for the local elite.
A vast part of the equipment, including the furnace, was reconstructed with the use of materials hidden outside the city before the front moved into Gdańsk.