Titelpagina voor: L. van den Bos, Spicilegium of by-spel van vorstelycke treur-gevallen; deel 2 van: Het toneel der ongevallen, 1683 1683

Here is the title page for the second part of L. van den Bosch’s "Spicilegium of by-play of Princely Tragedies," with an etching by Arnold Houbraken, printed in Dordrecht in 1683. In the 17th-century Dutch Republic, a burgeoning print culture allowed for the wide dissemination of moralizing tales. This title page promises stories of the “true likenesses of worldly dominions and states, rise, and fall of the Great.” The image includes a female allegorical figure sounding a trumpet, perhaps announcing these tragedies. Consider the role of spectacle and morality plays during this era. Such works often served to reinforce social hierarchies, cautioning against the instability of power while entertaining the public. Notice how the narrative constructs a vision of leadership, success, and failure tied to morality. How might these stories reflect or shape the values of the Dutch Republic at its height? This print offers a window into the complex interplay between power, morality, and public perception in the early modern world.