Triomf van Gouverneur Starrenburg 1683

This 1683 etching by Gaspar Bouttats, titled "Triomf van Gouverneur Starrenburg," depicts the triumph of the Dutch Governor Willem van Starrenburg. Starrenburg is shown standing on the defeated bodies of his enemies, while a celestial stairway to heaven rises above him. The image is filled with symbolic details, including a banner proclaiming "Sic itur ad astra" ("Thus one goes to the stars"), and figures representing faith, hope, and charity. This allegorical work, held at the Rijksmuseum, celebrates the governor's victory and the glory of the Dutch Republic.