Allegorische voorstelling op de vorstendommen van de wereld 1647

Adriaen Matham’s “Allegorische voorstelling op de vorstendommen van de wereld” is a 17th-century engraving illustrating the book “Historien der Nederlanden,” a history of the Netherlands and its neighbors by Emanuel van Meteren, published in 1647. The work features an elaborate composition with figures representing different countries and continents, as well as a portrait of the author. The image is a striking example of the use of allegorical figures in 17th-century Dutch art, conveying historical and political themes through symbolic imagery. The inscription at the bottom reads “Tot Dordrecht, by Maerten de Bot, Boekverkooper in de Vriefe-straet, in't jaer 1647,” indicating the location and date of publication of the book.