Two carved shells, sculpture collection Rijksmuseum

Bellekin transformed nature into art, producing objects perfectly in keeping with the 17th-century concept of a collection of rarities. VOC ships brought back oyster shells from the Indian Ocean, which Bellekin carved with scenes from Greek mythology in low relief: Perseus on his winged horse rescuing Andromeda, and the nymph Scylla reaching out to the sea god Glaucus.