Allegorische voorstelling van het huwelijk van Willem III met Maria Stuart, 1677 1696 - 1700

This allegorical representation of the marriage of William III to Mary Stuart was created in 1677 by Jacobus Baptist. This print, now housed in the Rijksmuseum, marks a union as much about politics as it was about love. At its heart, the work is a vision of power, symbolized through the joining of hands between William and Mary. Flanked by allegorical figures, the marriage is elevated beyond a personal event to a matter of state. Note the Cupid figure above, and the lion, symbols of love and courage, respectively. It is impossible to ignore the context of 17th-century Europe, defined by dynastic ambitions. The work's emotional resonance lies not in the depicted love, but in the representation of a strategic alliance. Ultimately, this print serves as a historical document, reflecting the era's complex interplay between personal relationships and political strategy, offering insights into the construction of power.