Standvastigheid van burgemeester van der Werff, 1574

About this artwork

Tijdens het beleg van Leiden reikt burgemeester van der Werff soldaten het zwaard om hem te doden, 1574. Deze prent maakt deel uit van een serie van 24 prenten met taferelen uit het leven van prins Willem I, 1568-1584 en is een illustratie bij de vijftiende zang.

Art Historical Context

In the heart of the 1574 Siege of Leiden, a pivotal moment of Dutch resistance against Spanish forces during the Eighty Years' War, this engraving captures Mayor Pieter Adriaansz. van der Werff's legendary act of defiance. Facing starvation and mutiny among his soldiers, van der Werff boldly offered them his sword, urging them to kill him than surrender the city. unyielding courage—*standvastigheid*—spired the defenders to hold out, leading to their eventual relief by William the Silent, Prince of Orange, and cementing Leiden's place in Dutch national lore. Created by Dutch engraver Theodoor Koning in 1782, this work is plate from a series of 24 engravings depicting key scenes from William I's life (1568–1584). Measuring 272 × 217 mm, it illustrates the fifteenth canto of a poetic epic honoring the prince's heroism. Engravings like this were vital for disseminating history in the 18th century, using intricate line work to convey drama and emotion on paper, making grand narratives accessible to wide audiences. This piece not only revives a tale of resilience but also reflects the enduring cultural reverence for the Dutch Revolt's founders, blending historical fidelity with artistic storytelling.