Relief Tribunal (Supplemental)

On the left side of the relief stands the Roman consul Lucius Junius Brutus. He is signalling to the executioner to behead the kneeling youth. At his feet is the headless body of a second youth. A third awaits his fate. Jupiter, the king of the gods, can also be seen, seated on a throne, holding lightning and accompanied by his eagle. A shield beside Jupiter is inscribed with the abbreviation SPQR (standing for ‘the senate and people of Rome’). Above Jupiter is a depiction of the she-wolf with Romulus and Remus, the twin founders of Rome.
According to the story, Brutus had expelled King Lucius Tarquinius Superbus and founded the Roman Republic. His sons and in-laws, who were related to Tarquinius, wanted to help the king to return to power, making Rome a monarchy again. A slave informed Brutus, who had them tried for high treason. The penalty for this was death. As consul, Brutus had to have his own sons beheaded. Justice had to prevail over family feeling.

Additional information:
This scene symbolises the sense of justice that the Amsterdam courts were to possess: all offenders must receive due punishment, even if the sheriff and magistrates knew them. In administering justice, the sheriff and magistrates were to follow the example of classical antiquity.