
Desiderius Erasmus - Rotterdam, Netherlands
Posted by:
Metro2
N 51° 55.294 E 004° 29.061
31U E 602076 N 5753355
This is the oldest statue in the Netherlands.... it is located in front of Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk.
Waymark Code: WMCT8J
Location: Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Date Posted: 10/09/2011
Views: 21
Erasmus was a Catholic theologian who was born here in Rotterdam in 1466. This 1622 bronze statue by Hendrick de Keyser is the oldest sculpture in the Netherlands. It depicts Erasmus standing in flowing clerical garb reading a large book. He is best known for having written "The Praise of Folly" published in 1511, but he authored several other widely-read works of his time. Wikipedia (
visit link) has an extensive discussion of his works. "By the 1530s, the writings of Erasmus accounted for 10 to 20 percent of all book sales."
Despite important differences with Martin Luther, Erasmus promoted religious tolerance. he died in Basel in 1536.
The artist, Hendrick de Keyser (1565-1621), "was instrumental in establishing a late Renaissance form of Mannerism in Amsterdam. He was the father of Thomas de Keyser who was an architect and portrait painter." (
visit link)