‘WILLEM DE EERSTE, PRINS VAN ORANJE.’

– Portrait of William the Silent or William the Taciturn (Dutch: Willem de Zwijger; 24 April 1533 – 10 July 1584), more commonly known in the Netherlands as William of Orange (Dutch: Willem van Oranje). Born into the House of Nassau, he became Prince of Orange in 1544 and is thereby the founder of the Orange-Nassau branch and the ancestor of the monarchy of the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, he is also known as Father of the Fatherland (Latin: Pater Patriae; Dutch: Vader des Vaderlands).

In stock

Description

Medium: Engraving/etching on hand laid (verge) paper. Watermark: small coat of arrms (present on some sheets).

Sheet size: 22 x 34.5 cm (8.66 x 13.58 inch). Image size: 17.5 x 26 cm. (6.89 x 10.24 inch).

Condition: good, given age. Brown spot right margin just barely touching image area. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

WILLIAM PRINCE OF ORANGE-THE SILENT-PORTRAIT | BOX-DEGROOT-LECLERC

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

From Hugo de Groot’s ‘Nederlandtsche Jaerboeken en Historien,’ published in 1681 by Joannes van Someren and others in Amsterdam. These portraits are also to be found in othert sources and editions : P.C. Hooft, Bor, or Jean Le Clerc. Published between 1670 and 1730.

Biography engraver: Engraver unknown/to be determined.

Biography artist: Hugo Grotius (1583- 1645), also known as Huig de Groot, Hugo Grocio or Hugo de Groot, was a jurist in the Dutch Republic. With Francisco de Vitoria and Alberico Gentili he laid the foundations for international law, based on natural law. He was also a philosopher, theologian, Christian apologist, playwright, and poet.