The Dairy Cow: The Dutch Provinces, Revolting against the Spanish King Philip II, Are Led by Prince William of Orange, The States General Entreat Queen Elizabeth I for Aid, anonymous, c. 1633 - c. 1639

Title(s)

The Dairy Cow: The Dutch Provinces, Revolting against the Spanish King Philip II, Are Led by Prince William of Orange, The States General Entreat Queen Elizabeth I for Aid

Object type

• painting

Object number

SK-A-2684

Inscriptions / marks

• inscription: ‘Not longe time since I sawe a cowe / Did Flaunders represente / Upon whose backe kinge Phillip rode / As being malecontnt. // The queene of England giving hay / Wheare on the cow did feede / As one that was her greatest helpe / In her distresse and neede. // The prince of Orange milkt the cow / and made his purse the payle / The cow did shyt in monsieurs hand / While he did hold her tayle.’

Description

Het melkkoetje, satirische voorstelling over de politieke positie van de Nederlanden, wellicht naar een onbekende Engelse prent. De Nederlanden gesymboliseerd door een koe wordt bereden door Filips II, koning van Spanje. Elisabeth I, koningin van Engeland geeft de koe eten en drinken. Willem I, prins van Oranje, ligt onder de koe en drinkt uit de uier terwijl de hertog van Anjou de staart van de koe mag vasthouden en op zijn hand gescheten wordt. Op de achtergrond kijkt een groepje edelen toe.

Artist

• painter: anonymous
• after print by: anonymous
• after painting by: anonymous

Place

Antwerp

Dating

c. 1633 - c. 1639

Physical features

oil on panel

Material

• panel
• oil paint (paint)

Measurements

height 52 cm × width 67 cm
height 69.7 cm × width 84 cm × thickness 7.5 cm

What

• political caricatures and satires
• cow
• queen, empress, etc. (wife of a ruler)

When

• 1581 - 1585

Where

• Netherlands

Who

• Elizabeth I Tudor (koningin van Engeland)
• Philip II of Spain
• William I (Prince of Orange)
• François-Hercule de Valois (hertog van Anjou)
• Staten-Generaal
• Republiek der Zeven Verenigde Nederlanden

Credit line

• R.T., Baron van Pallandt van Eerde Bequest

Acquisition

bequest Jul-1913

Copyright

Public domain

• Willem van Oranje, Daniel R. Horst, p. 20-21, afb. 11
• William of Orange, Daniel R. Horst, p. 20-21, afb. 11
• Antwerpen, verhaal van een metropool : 16de-17de eeuw, Jan Van der Stock, cat.nr. 128
• Armada 1588-1988 : [an international exhibition to commemorate the Spanish Armada : the official catalogue], Mía J. Rodríguez-Saldago, p. 117, cat.nr. 6.13
• Milking the fat cow : a political allegory on the Netherlands during the revolt, Wilhelmus Hermanus Vroom
• Milking the fat cow : a political allegory on the Netherlands during the revolt, Wilhelmus Hermanus Vroom
• Kikkers en kaaskoppen : Nederland en Nederlanders in buitenlandse spotprenten, Daniel R. Horst, p. 55, afb. 36
• James Tanis, 'The Tale of a Cow', in: The Low Countries. Art and Society in Flanders and the Netherlands. A Yearbook. 1996-97, Rekkem (Ons Erfdeel) 1996, p. 152-162.
• Documentatiemap Schilderijen.