Hermes (1941) Adriaan van der Plas

photo BKOR archive
About the artwork

In the spring of 1940, it was decided to construct the RET bus garage. The construction of the garage took place in the first years of the war. During construction, sculptor Adriaan van der Plas was commissioned to make this facing brick.Hermes' and the facade relief above the entrance to the building. He made a terracotta facing stone of the Greek god Hermes, son of the supreme god Zeus and known in particular as the god of trade and travellers. The original RET logo is depicted at the bottom right. It is a beautiful dynamic work, in which logo and human figure form a good unity. The entire complex was festively opened on April 10, 1947 by mayor Pieter Oud.

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About the artist

Adriaan van der Plas (Rotterdam, 1899 - Kerkrade, 1974) specialized in religious art and design. He studied at the Rotterdam art academy. Van der Plas received a bronze medal for nude figure drawing and he received three Royal Grants. From 1921 to 1923 he made study trips through Europe and then settled permanently in Rotterdam. He drew delicately and with care, made prints and paintings, including murals for De Doelen in 1935, a Way of the Cross in front of St. Bavo in Heemstede. In 1940 he made the mural 'Viribus Unitis' for the Jungerhans family's emergency shop on Mathenesserlaan.

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