A Life in Middelburg

Jeronimus Becx (Ii) lived during the middle of the seventeenth century. He was born in Middelburg, Netherlands, in 1620. His life followed the quiet rhythms of the Dutch Golden Age until his death in 1665. While records of his daily movements are sparse, his hand left a mark on the heraldic traditions of his time.

The Language of Heraldry

His work often focused on the intricate details of emblems and coats of arms. In 1651, he produced The Arms of the Dutch East India Company and of the Town of Batavia. This piece carries a heavy weight of maritime and colonial symbolism. He placed a sailing ship at sea within the VOC emblem, flanked by Neptune on one side and Amphitrite with her mirror on the other. At the base, he painted a festoon of shells, while the upper portions of the work are crowded with banners, weapons, and nautical instruments.

The depiction of Batavia carries its own specific imagery. He rendered a sword crowned by a laurel wreath, flanked by seven arrows and another sword, all enclosed by two crossed palm branches. An inscription within the work notes the conquest of the city of Jacatra on 30 May 1619. Through these precise details, he recorded the symbols used by the United East India Company and the city itself.