Quintus Fabius Maximus

The elderly Quintus Fabius Maximus has dismounted to greet his son, who is a consul. The people are amazed that the son should humiliate his elderly father by making him dismount and climb the stairs to greet him. They feel a son should show respect by going to greet his father. But Fabius is delighted that his son holds his own status as consul in such high honour, putting this above his respect for family relationships.

Additional information:
As the leading city of the Dutch Republic, Amsterdam saw itself as the successor to the Roman Republic (509-31 BC). During the republican period Rome was ruled by consuls, with whom the Dutch burgomasters compared themselves. The message of the painting is that, like the young consul, the burgomasters should respect their office and not be swayed by family ties or personal friendships.