De hertog van Schomberg sneuvelt in de slag bij de Boyne, 1690 1691

Pieter Pickaert created this print of "The Duke of Schomberg Killed at the Battle of the Boyne, 1690," likely near the turn of the 18th century. This work arrives in the wake of the Glorious Revolution, when the Protestant William of Orange deposed the Catholic King James II of England. Pickaert’s print depicts a key moment in the ensuing power struggle, the Battle of the Boyne. The image vividly captures the chaos and violence, but it also reflects the religious and political tensions of the era. Schomberg, a key commander in William's army, became a martyr for the Protestant cause, his death a symbol of the sacrifices made in the name of religious and political freedom. The composition is busy, filled with soldiers, horses, and the paraphernalia of war. This reflects the period’s taste for dramatic historical narratives, as well as the grim realities of power and conflict. The print asks us to consider the human cost of political and religious conflict. What does it mean to sacrifice one’s life for a cause, and how does history remember these sacrifices?