The Disbanding of the ‘Waardgelders’ by Prince Maurits

Pauwels van Hillegaert (signed by artist), 1627

Attired in black, Prince Maurits watches as (mercenary) soldiers – so-called ‘waardgelders’ hired by the towns – here cast off their armour into a sizeable heap. Army commander Maurits put an end to the practice of hiring mercenaries in 1618. By disbanding them, he further consolidated his control over the municipal governments, quashing their ability to defend themselves

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-155
  • Dimensionssupport: height 98.5 cm x width 171.2 cm, outer size: depth 8.5 cm (support incl. frame)
  • Physical characteristicsoil on canvas

Identification

  • Title(s)

    • The Disbanding of the ‘Waardgelders’ by Prince Maurits
    • The Disbanding of the 'Waardgelders' (Mercenaries in the Pay of the Town Government) by Prince Maurits on the Neude, Utrecht, 31 July 1618

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-155

  • Description

    Het afdanken van de waardersgelders door prins Maurits op de Neude te Utrecht, 31 juli 1618. De prins staat omgeven door wachten en officieren op de voorgrond, links en rechts ruiters. Op het midden van de plein gooien de waardgelders hun wapens en wapenrusting op een grote hoop.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    • date, on the fourth house on the right: ‘Anno 1627’
    • signature and date, bottom centre: ‘Pauwels van hilligaert 1627’
    • signature, on the house on the left: ‘PAwels van hillig’

  • Part of catalogue

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Pauwels van Hillegaert (signed by artist)

  • Dating

    1627

  • Search further with

Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on canvas

  • Dimensions

    • support: height 98.5 cm x width 171.2 cm
    • outer size: depth 8.5 cm (support incl. frame)

This work is about

  • Person

  • Subject

  • Place

  • Period

    1618-07-31

Acquisition and rights

  • Acquisition

    purchase 1801-04

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; purchased by the museum from the dealer C.S. Roos, 3 April 1801;{Moes/Van Biema 1909, pp. 44-45; Grijzenhout 1984, p. 57, no. 31.}

Documentation

  • Documentatiemap Schilderijen: aantekeningen R. van Luttervelt (voor 1963).

Related objects

  • Related

Persistent URL

Questions?

Do you spot a mistake? Or do you have information about the object? Let us know!