A grand triumphal chariot carrying the Dutch Maid and naval heroes like Tromp and De Ruyter is led by personifications of Vigilance and Harmony. Above, the figure of Fame sounds her trumpets, while in the background, a Dutch man-of-war sails near Loevestein Castle. The Dutch Lion appears at the right, wielding a sword and a bundle of arrows to defend the coast from the English fleet.
This work represents the 17th-century Dutch synthesis of political propaganda and classical allegory, utilizing the Roman triumphal tradition to assert national sovereignty. It draws heavily on the iconographic language established in Cesare Ripa's 'Iconologia,' a primary source for both political and esoteric visual symbolism in the early modern period.
Maid of HollandVictoriaVigilantiaConcordiaFamaDutch LionMichiel de RuyterMaerten Trompbundle of arrowshat of freedomlaurel wreathtridentlamp
DE ZEEGEPRALENDE NEEDERLANDSE ZEE HELDEN
Fama
In ævum
Victoria
Loevesteyn
Vigilantia
Concordia
J. Saenredam fecit
Hugo Allardt Exc.
Zo Romen Cezar ooit, van 's Vyandts nederlaagen
In volle praal en pracht zag op den zeege waagen
Gevolgt van roof, en buit, en overwonnen volck
Gedwongen door 't ontzag van zyn gevreesde dolck
Ter staatsy poorten in, al tryomferend koomen –
Zo doen wy dan niet min als 't edelmoedig Romen
Ernsthaftig heeft gedaan, aan Helden kloek van aart –
Een Ruyter, en een Tromp, zyn voor ons zoo veel waart.
Als tien, ja meer dan tien, van d'alderbraafste helden.
Wyl zy, wie kan, met my, hun daper krygs deugd melden?
Den grooten water-droes verdreeven uyt der Zee
En sleepen Schip, en buyt, en 's Konings vlaggen mee
't Geen Afke, in vangkenis, op Loeve-steyn doet treuren.
Koom, wilt dan Eiken-lof, en Louwerieren scheuren.
Van stam, en telg, en tak, en kroon de hoofden van.
Dit edel-moedig paer, tot schrik der zeetyran.
Jan Zoet.
Ce char de l'union, où deux fameux Guerriers,
Ont chargé comme à tas lauriers dessus lauriers,
Marque que ces Tyrans, ces fiers, ces Hypocondres,
Qui vouloient qu'on les eût tenir la clef des ondes
Pour fermer et ouvrir selon leurs appetits
l'Empire de Neptune ou les champs de Thetis,
Ont senti quel trenchant avoit le cimeterre
Du Lion qu'ils croyoient prendre dans son parterre.
En voici des effets, Ascu en est tesmoin,
Monk le sçait et Robert, qui sçaut bien au besoin,
Se saisir des souliers que sçait chausser un lievre,
Et je croy sans mentir qu'il en a eu la fievre,
Enfin ces Etendarts, ces canons, ces vaisseaux,
Ces Soldats prisonniers, montrent que sur le eaux
Les Belges bien vnis trouvent dans leur boutique
Dequoi vaincre et dompter la fierté Britannique.
Translation
THE TRIUMPHANT DUTCH SEA HEROES
Fama
In ævum
Victoria
Loevesteyn
Vigilantia
Concordia
J. Saenredam fecit
Hugo Allardt Exc.
As Rome once saw Caesar, from the enemy's defeat
In full pomp and splendor, atop the triumphal car
Followed by plunder, and booty, and conquered folk
Forced by the awe of his dreaded dagger
Into the gates of the state, coming in triumph –
So do we no less than noble Rome
Has earnestly done, to Heroes of bold nature –
A Ruyter, and a Tromp, are to us worth as much.
As ten, yes more than ten, of the bravest heroes.
While they, who can, with me, recount their brave martial virtue?
Drove the great water-demon out of the Sea
And dragged Ship, and booty, and the King's flags along
Which makes Ayscue, in captivity, at Loevestein mourn.
Come, then, tear the Oak-leaf, and Laurels.
From stem, and shoot, and branch, and crown the heads of.
This noble pair, to the terror of the sea-tyrant.
Jan Zoet.
This chariot of the union, where two famous Warriors,
Have heaped like a pile, laurels upon laurels,
Shows that those Tyrants, those proud, those hypochondriacs,
Who wanted us to believe they held the key to the waves
To close and open according to their appetites
The Empire of Neptune or the fields of Thetis,
Have felt what sharpness had the scimitar
Of the Lion they thought they could take in his own garden.
Here are the effects of it, Ayscue is the witness,
Monk knows it and Robert, who knows well in time of need,
To seize the shoes that a hare knows how to put on
And I believe without lying that he caught a fever from it,
Finally these Standards, these cannons, these vessels,
These captive Soldiers, show that on the waters
The well-united Belgians find in their workshop
Wherewith to conquer and tame British pride.
Connected Texts
Cesare Ripa
The personifications of Victoria, Vigilantia, and Concordia follow the standard iconographic attributes established in Ripa's Iconologia.
