Anonymous: The throne of the duke of Alba (1569)

(Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

An engraving by an anonymous 16th century German artist. Although less spectacular, the Dutch war of independence, the eighty years war (1568-1648), was also fought in the art. For artists from both parties in the conflict, the Dutch rebels and the Spanish empire, the war was a popular theme in their art: battles, sieges, religious subjects, leaders etc. A popular theme for the artists who supported the Dutch rebels was portraying the Spanish government as 'evil as possible' - in modern terms propaganda. This engraving is an example of such propaganda. The primary character on this print is Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba (1507-1582), who was the Governor of the Netherlands between 1567-1573 for king Philip II of Spain. The duke is shown seated on a throne with the text "The throne of the duke of Alba, the papal lieutenant" written below it (religious conflicts between the Catholics and the Protestants was an important reason for discontent in the Netherlands). Standing on his right is cardinal Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle (1517 – 1586), the chief councilor of the Governor of the Netherlands Margaret of Parma. Granvelle is crowned with a papal tiara by a devil behind him and is using bellows to 'blow catholic and evil advice in the ears of the duke of Alba. The duke of Alba and Granvelle were very unpopular in the Netherlands and were frequently used as a main subject in Dutch propaganda - even years after they had left the Netherlands (Granvelle had retired in 1564). Even prince William I 'the silent' of Orange, the leader of the Dutch rebels, claimed he was only fighting the bad Spanish governors of the Netherlands and not the king of Spain - in this way William of Orange could claim he still was loyal to his lord, the king of Spain. Standing on the left of the throne of the duke of Alba is the Council of Troubles, a special tribunal instituted by the duke of Alba to punish the ringleaders of the Dutch rebels. Chained to the throne of the duke of Alba are the personifications of the 17 provinces of the Spanish Netherlands (modern Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands). Standing on the far right are members of the States General of the Netherlands, an assembly of all the provincial states - the members hold their fingers to their lips - they are silenced by the duke. Visible behind the duke is a selection of Spanish cruelty: people are hanged, beheaded, tortured, clergy who are enriching themselves etc. Propaganda such as this was very successful in the Netherlands and influenced the Dutch view of the war. Engraving from 1569.