The Arms of the Dutch East India Company and of the Town of Batavia - Jeronimus Becx (II)

A detailed heraldic study of the arms of Batavia, featuring rampant lions and the insignia of the Dutch East India Company, dated 1619.

This work by Jeronimus Becx (II) depicts the heraldic emblem of Batavia, the administrative centre of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in the East Indies. The composition is structured within an oval frame, featuring two rampant lions acting as supporters. The lion on the left holds a bundle of arrows, while the lion on the right brandishes a sword. These figures flank a central red shield, which displays a vertical sword encircled by a laurel wreath.

The iconography reflects the military and commercial objectives of the Dutch presence in Java during the early seventeenth century. The inclusion of the sword and arrows serves as a visual shorthand for authority and defensive power. Below the shield, a detailed inscription in Dutch provides historical context, noting the capture of the site on 30 May 1619. The script is rendered in a formal, calligraphic hand, typical of official documents and cartographic decorations of the period.

Becx employs a balanced, symmetrical arrangement that draws the eye to the central shield. The palette is restrained, relying on earthy tones for the lions and the background, which allows the red of the shield to provide a clear visual anchor. The shading on the lions suggests a degree of volume, yet the overall treatment remains focused on the symbolic clarity required for heraldic display. This piece offers a view into the visual culture of the Dutch colonial administration, where art was frequently used to codify identity and territorial claims. The work is a precise example of how European heraldic traditions were adapted to represent new colonial outposts, blending formal European design with the specific political narrative of the VOC.