Reception of the White Monks by the Magistrate and the Notables of the City of Antwerp

Peeters renders the bustling port with meticulous attention to the rigging, hulls, and flags, employing a palette that shifts from subdued earth tones in the architecture to brighter reds and blues in the clothing and banners. The composition creates depth through atmospheric perspective, and the cloudy sky adds a sense of movement.

During the 1620s Antwerp was a major commercial hub, and civic ceremonies such as this one were often commemorated in art. Peeters, known primarily for maritime subjects, integrates the city’s civic architecture—a prominent building with a tall spire—into a lively narrative of public celebration.

Since its creation, the painting has remained in Belgium and is now housed in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, where it is displayed among other works that illustrate the city’s maritime and civic heritage.