Portret van stadhouder Willem III

About this artwork

height 348 mm x width 254 mm

Art Historical Context

This striking portrait captures Stadtholder Willem III, better known as William III of Orange, during a pivotal era in European history. Created by the Dutch engraver Gerard Valck between 1689 and 1726, the work depicts the ruler who simultaneously served as leader of the Dutch Republic and, after 1689, as King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The timing of the portrait aligns with William’s rise to the English throne following the Glorious Revolution, underscoring his role in bridging Dutch and British political worlds. Executed on paper, the piece likely represents an engraving or print, ...

About the Artist

Gerard Valck · 1652–1726

Gerard Valck (1652–1726) was a Dutch engraver, publisher, and cartographer whose career bridged the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age and the 18th-century Enlightenment. Born on September 30, 1652, in Amsterdam to a silversmith father, and dying on October 21, 1726, Valck played a crucial role in introducing and developing mezzotint printmaking in England while also establishing a significant publishi...