Bartholomeus Eggers

Bartholomeus Eggers (c. 1637[1] – before 23 February 1692) was a Flemish sculptor, who after training in his hometown Antwerp spent most of his active career in the Dutch Republic.

Here he initially collaborated with other Flemish sculptors on the sculptural decorations for the new city hall in Amsterdam, a project which was under the direction of Artus Quellinus the Elder.

He was, together with Artus Quellinus the Elder and Rombout Verhulst, one of the leading sculptors active in the Dutch Republic in the second half of the 17th century.

[6] From 1650 onwards, Quellinus worked for fifteen years on the new city hall in Amsterdam together with the lead architect Jacob van Campen.

Now called the Royal Palace on the Dam, this construction project, and in particular the marble decorations that Quellinus and his workshop produced, became an example for other buildings in Amsterdam.

The same year he was able to secure an important commission from Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, possibly at the recommendation of John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen who resided in The Hague and was likely already one of his patrons.

[9] The bust was removed from the Mauritshuis in 2017 amidst controversy over Holland's colonial history and Prince John Maurice's role in the slave trade.

[11] Another important commission for Eggers was that for the monument of Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam, admiral of the Dutch fleet, who was killed in 1665 in the Battle of Lowestoft against the English.

Eggers beat out the sculptor Rombout Verhulst in a competition for the commission written out by the States General of the Dutch Republic.

[12] In the years 1668 and 1669 Eggers worked on a relief showing people weighing cheese that was made for the facade of the Waag (weigh-house) in Gouda.