Dood van Sébastien de La Ruelle 1637

Hendrik Noël Natalis's engraving "Dood van Sébastien de La Ruelle" (1637) depicts the death of Sébastien de La Ruelle, a mayor of the city of Luik. The engraving uses a combination of realistic and symbolic imagery to portray the event. La Ruelle lies in state, his face pale and lifeless, while a standing figure, likely a family member, gazes down at him, holding a staff signifying power. The inscription beneath the image emphasizes La Ruelle's life dedicated to justice, a theme further supported by the imagery of the scales of justice. This work is an example of 17th-century Dutch printmaking, a popular art form for recording historical events and conveying complex political and social messages.