Count William III of Holland Permitting the Beheading of his Baliff, from Thronus Justitiae, tredecim pulcherrimus tabulis..., plate 7

Art Historical Context

Step into the dramatic world of 17th-century Dutchmaking with *Count William III of Holland Perm the Beheading of hisiff*, plate 7 the series *Thronus Justitiae, tredecim pulchimus tabulis...* (Throne of Justice, with thirteen most beautiful plates). Created around 1605–6, this engraving is a collaborative masterpiece by Joachim Wtewael, known for his Mannerist style with intricate figures and vivid narratives; Willem van Swanenburg, a skilled engraver; and Christoffel van Sichem, a master woodcutter. Measuring about 12 x 15 inches, it captures a tense moment of medieval justice: a noble count authorizes the execution of his own bailiff, sword poised amid suffering figures. As part of a rare series celebrating historic acts of fairness, the print draws from 13th-century Dutch history, where Count William III—ruler of Holland—enforces accountability even on his officials. Engravings like this were revolutionary for their time, allowing detailed, reproducible images to educate and moralize across Europe during the Dutch Republic's Golden Age. The fine lines and crowded composition heighten the drama of kings, swords, and human anguish, blending historical reverence with visual intensity. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1956), this work reminds us how art has long served justice's throne—inviting reflection on power, punishment, and the rule of law.