Romeyn de Hooghe. Entrance of William III through the Triumphal Arch at the Buitenhof, The Hague, from Govert Bidloo, Komste van Koning Willem III / Netherlands, 1691.

Engraver/Artist: Romeyn de Hooghe [Hooge] (Dutch, 1645–1708)
Title: Intrede van Zyn Majesteit door de zegeboog voor ’t hof — Entrée de Sa Majesté par dessous l’Arc de Triomphe qui est devant La Cour
Date: 1691
Medium & Physical description: Etching and engraving; ink on laid paper; sheet 410 × 480 mm; image within frame 326 × 348 mm; central vertical fold; repaired tear; corners replaced.
From the book: Govert Bidloo. Komste van Zyne Majesteit Willem III. koning van Groot Britanje, enz. in Holland, of, Te omstandelyke beschryving van alles: het welke op des zelfs komste en geduurende zyn verblyf, in’s Graavenhaage en elders, ten teeken van vreugde en eere, is opgerecht en voorgevallen / vercierd met kopere platen. The Hague: Arnold Leers, 1691 (HathiTrust).

Inscriptions:
– Title banners:
Dutch (left): INTREDE VAN ZYN | MAJESTEIT DOOR DE | ZEEGEBOOG VOOR ’T HOF (Entrance of His Majesty through the triumphal arch before the court).
French (right): ENTRÉE DE SA MAJESTÉ PAR | DESSOUS L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE | QUI EST DEVANT LA COUR. (Entrance of His Majesty beneath the triumphal arch in front of the court). – On the arch: PIO FELIC[issimo] GUILLELMO III M[agnae] BRIT[anniae] R[egi] BELG[arum] … (to the most pious and fortunate William III, King of Great Britain and the Netherlands…). ATTINGAT SOLIUM JOVIS (Let him reach the throne of Jupiter).

Description:
Panoramic ceremonial view of the arrival of William III at the Buitenhof, The Hague, passing beneath a monumental triumphal arch erected for the occasion. The richly decorated structure features sculptural reliefs, Doric columns, and a central dome, surmounted by allegorical figures. The royal carriage approaches from the left along a passage lined with foot guards and mounted cavalry, while crowds gather around the square. Behind the arch lies the entrance to the Binnenhof. Above, a crowned heraldic shield bearing a lion rampant is flanked by two scroll banners with the Dutch and French titles. The print forms part of the illustrated suite by Romeyn de Hooghe for Govert Bidloo’s Komste van Zyne Majesteit Willem III… (The Hague: Arnold Leers, 1691), recording the king’s ceremonial entry into The Hague and the festivities following his accession to the English throne.

Genre: Newsprint (nieuwsprent) — political and historical event print commemorating a royal reception.

References:
– John Landwehr, Romeyn de Hooghe as book illustrator: A bibliography. — Amsterdam: Van Gendt & Co.; New York: Abner Schram, 1970, p. 173, no. 79. Illustrated in Govert Bidloo, Komste van Zyne Majesteit Willem III… (The Hague: Arnold Leers, 1691), p. 58. [LIB-2547.2020]
– British Museum: William III approaching the triumphal arch erected on the square Buitenhof in The Hague; the royal carriage approaches from left, a passage and square lined with foot-guard and cavalry mounted guards; coat of arms flanked by Dutch and French title at top; illustration to Bidloo’s “Komste van Zyne Majesteit Willem III in Holland” (The Hague: Arnold Leers, 1691).
– Wikimedia Commons: Komste van Zyne Majesteit Willem III. koning van Groot Britanje, enz. in Holland, of, Te omstandelyke beschryving van alles… (File:14559227648).

Contributors: Bidloo, Govert [Govard] (Dutch, 1649–1713) – author Leers, Arnoud (Dutch, 1669–1717) – publisher/printer