Hannibal steekt de Alpen over; intocht van Ferdinand te Gent in 1635

About this artwork

Gebruikt als illustratie in: Guillielmus Becanus, Serenissimi principis Ferdinandi Hispaniarum infantis S.R.E. cardinalis triumphalis introitus in Flandriae metropolim Gandavum, J. Meursius, Antwerpen 1636, pl. 15.

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Antony van der Does captures a striking visual parallel between ancient heroism and contemporary spectacle. Created between 1635 and 1636, it served as plate 15 in Guillielmus Becanus’s lavish publication documenting the triumphal entry of Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand into Ghent. The dual title—linking Hannibal’s legendary crossing of the Alps with Ferdinand’s arrival—reflects the Baroque taste for drawing grand historical comparisons to celebrate rulers. Measuring 369 by 285 millimeters, the print exemplifies the refined engraving techniques popular in the Southern Netherlands during this period. Such detailed works were essential for commemorating elaborate civic festivals, transforming fleeting processions into lasting symbols of power and continuity. Van der Does’s precise linework would have helped convey both the drama of the ancient episode and the pomp of Ferdinand’s 1635 entry. Produced in Antwerp by publisher J. Meursius, the engraving contributed to a broader propaganda effort that reinforced Habsburg authority in the Spanish Netherlands. Today it offers modern viewers a window into how 17th-century audiences understood military leadership through the lens of classical antiquity.

About the Artist

Antony van der Does · 1609–1680

Flemish, 1609–1680