Ceiling Execution Chamber (Supplemental)

This ceiling painting alludes to the good administration of justice in Amsterdam. Its message is that there is no place in the city for evil, or for avaricious, envious thieves and murderers. Avarice is represented here by King Midas, because he had the gift of turning all that he touched into gold. Since the same thing happened to his food and drink, the gift soon became a curse. Envy is a squinting, emaciated woman called Invidia. Her venomous thoughts cause serpents to grow out of her head instead of hair. Wisdom or Minerva wears a helmet and carries a spear and the Medusa shield. Governance or oeconomia is identifiable by a ship’s rudder and globe, while Temperance holds a bridle with which to rein in human passions. This painting is related to the group of sculptures in the Citizens’ Hall (Burgerzaal) above the doorway to the Magistrates’ Chamber (Schepenzaal).