Allegorie op de dood prins Willem IV, 1751 1751 - 1752

Jan Caspar Philips produced this etching entitled "Allegory on the Death of Prince William IV" in 1751. The image constructs meaning through visual codes specific to the Dutch Republic. We see a bust of Prince William, draped in finery, elevated on a plinth. Minerva, goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, mourns at its base, a lion nestled beside her. On the right, a cherubic figure sits with an hourglass, personifying mortality. A poem inscribed on the print laments the loss of Leiden University's protector. This imagery isn't just about personal grief. It reflects the political and institutional landscape of the time. William IV held multiple roles, including hereditary stadtholder, a powerful position. His death triggered a power vacuum, impacting institutions like Leiden University that relied on his patronage. To understand this image fully, we delve into the social and political history of the Dutch Republic, looking at archival records and other primary sources. Art like this reflects the complex interplay between individual lives, institutions, and broader social forces.