Description:
Half-length portrait of William I, Prince of Orange, also known as William the Silent, in three-quarter view, turned slightly to the right, gazing towards the viewer. He wears a ruff collar and decorated armour. The portrait is enclosed within an oval laurel wreath frame inscribed with the Latin motto LUX IN UNDIS, SÆVIS TRANQUIL (“Light in the waves, calm amid savagery”), and mounted on a monumental column. The column stands on a rectangular base inscribed with the sitter’s name and a French eulogy.
At the top of the column are three heraldic shields suspended from a strap: the central shield faces front and is crowned, bearing the arms of the House of Orange-Nassau; the two flanking shields are turned in partial profile.
At lower right, a pistol and bullets rest on the stone ledge; an orange branch with leaves climbs the side of the column.
The composition is symmetrically structured as a column on a base, and the oval frame is adorned with four medallions, each containing an allegorical emblem:
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Top medallion: A swallow descending toward a floating bottle — symbolising hope, rescue in adversity
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Left medallion: A female head with mouth bound by a ribbon — personification of Silence (Tacita), discretion
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Right medallion: A doe and a serpent — representing innocence confronted with deceit; vigilance
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Bottom medallion: A column standing on a book with a laurel wreath hanging from the top, forming the visual shape of the numeral “1” — symbolising constancy founded on wisdom and crowned with honour, and referencing William the First
Physical Description:
Sheet: 370 × 230 mm
Platemark: 300 × 183 mm
Image: 292 × 175 mm
Medium: Copperplate engraving on laid paper
Technique: Burin engraving and etching
Inscriptions:
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Around the oval frame: LUX IN UNDIS, SÆVIS TRANQUIL
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On pedestal below portrait (engraved): GUILLAUME PREMIER PRINCE D’ORANGE
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Below name, in cursive script: Le sus de ma patrie, un défenseur ardent | Immolé par l’Espagne à sa fière vengeance, | Elle ne savait pas qu’un jour mon descendant | Viendrait pour la sauver, faire tête à la France. [
The support of my homeland, a fervent defender, | Sacrificed by Spain to her proud vengeance, | She did not know that one day my descendant | Would come to save her, to stand against France.]
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Lower left margin: Adr.n vander Werff pinx.
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Lower right margin: G. Valck sculps.
People:
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William I, Prince of Orange [Willem van Oranje] (Netherlands, 1533–1584) — sitter
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Werff, Adriaen van der (Netherlands, 1659–1722) — painter (original work)
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Valck, Gerard (Netherlands, 1652–1726) — engraver and publisher
Additional Information
| Collection | European prints and drawings |
|---|---|
| Type / Purpose | |
| Period | 17 AD , 18 AD , Early 18th century , Late 17th century |
| Country | Holland , Netherlands |
| Media/Technique | Burin , Copperplate engraving , Engraving , Etching , Laid paper , Paper |
| Genre | State portrait |
| Subject | 17th century , 18th century , Dutch , Dutch artists , Heraldry , House of Orange-Nassau , Human face (portrait) , Memorial portrait , Netherlands , Portrait , Trophies of war |
| Creation / Publishing year | 1700 |
| Acquisition year | 2025 |
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