Optocht bij de inwijding van Universiteit van Leiden, 1575 1575

This anonymous 16th-century engraving depicts the procession celebrating the inauguration of Leiden University in 1575. The artwork, now held in the Rijksmuseum, captures the grandeur of the event through detailed, layered depictions of figures in the procession. The composition uses a narrow, panoramic format to show the full length of the procession, featuring figures on foot and horseback as well as a boat carrying dignitaries. The engraving's historical value lies in its vivid documentation of a pivotal moment in Dutch history, capturing the spirit of intellectual and academic progress.