Rita Camphuijsen

While working on the Tré Kronos, I examined every detail carefully. In doing so, I discovered a Latin inscription on the palace’s facade and realized it read “Deos Protector nos (ter)”—the last part of which should be located behind the building. Govert went to great lengths to incorporate many details into his depiction of street life in old Stockholm. Coming from a deeply religious family, he also focused on the religious invocation: “God protect us”. I learned that this text appeared on many important historic buildings in the 17th century, as well as on coats of arms. For a mini-exhibition around Easter, to which I was invited to contribute under the theme “Kyrie eleison,” I decided to paint the text in close-up in that 17th-century style.

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