The 'Spanish Fury' at Antwerp
Relief
ca. 1578-80 (made)
ca. 1578-80 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This is one of a series of roundels depicting the 'Spanish Fury' of 1576 and the liberation of Antwerp in August 1577. Between 4 and 6 November 1576 mercenaries in the Spanish service launched a full-scale attack on Antwerp, as depicted in this plaquette. Over 2500 citizens were murdered and 100 houses burned down, including the magnificent Town Hall. In August 1577, however, the Netherlandish coalition overthrew the Spanish troops in the Citadel (see A.34-1975). They then negotiated with the German mercenaries to withdraw (see A.36-1975).
The compositions of these bronze plaquettes, of which the V&A holds six (A.33-1975 to A.38-1975), are closely related to a set of seven engravings by the Wierix brothers, after designs by Marten de Vos, published in Antwerp in 1578-79. Five of the original drawings by Marten de Vos are known: four are at the Ashmolean Museum and one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A drawing for this composition does not survive, nor does a related print by the Wierix brothers. Jeremy Warren notes that a poor-quality lead plaquette showing the same scene of the Spanish Fury as depicted here was sold at Sotheby's, London, in 1996 (European Sculpture and Works of Art, 12 December 1996, no. 63). Comparison of the other V&A plaquettes in this series with the drawings and engravings to which they are related indicates, as Warren has argued, that the plaquettes derived from the drawings, not the engravings, and thus that the plaquettes were very likely made before the prints.
No complete set of seven plaquettes has survived; other partial sets, in lead, are at the Ashmolean and the Rijksmuseum.
Charles Avery attributed the plaquettes to the medallist and bronze sculptor, Jacques Jonghelinck, who was appointed head of the Mint of Antwerp in 1572. In that role, he would have worked for the Spanish Habsburgs, so it might be surprising that he would then take on these anti-Catholic and anti-Spanish subjects. The attribution, therefore, remains tentative. (Last updated March 2025)
The compositions of these bronze plaquettes, of which the V&A holds six (A.33-1975 to A.38-1975), are closely related to a set of seven engravings by the Wierix brothers, after designs by Marten de Vos, published in Antwerp in 1578-79. Five of the original drawings by Marten de Vos are known: four are at the Ashmolean Museum and one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A drawing for this composition does not survive, nor does a related print by the Wierix brothers. Jeremy Warren notes that a poor-quality lead plaquette showing the same scene of the Spanish Fury as depicted here was sold at Sotheby's, London, in 1996 (European Sculpture and Works of Art, 12 December 1996, no. 63). Comparison of the other V&A plaquettes in this series with the drawings and engravings to which they are related indicates, as Warren has argued, that the plaquettes derived from the drawings, not the engravings, and thus that the plaquettes were very likely made before the prints.
No complete set of seven plaquettes has survived; other partial sets, in lead, are at the Ashmolean and the Rijksmuseum.
Charles Avery attributed the plaquettes to the medallist and bronze sculptor, Jacques Jonghelinck, who was appointed head of the Mint of Antwerp in 1572. In that role, he would have worked for the Spanish Habsburgs, so it might be surprising that he would then take on these anti-Catholic and anti-Spanish subjects. The attribution, therefore, remains tentative. (Last updated March 2025)
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | The 'Spanish Fury' at Antwerp (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Bronze |
Brief description | Plaquette, bronze relief, The 'Spanish Fury' at Antwerp (4-6 November 1576), attributed to Jacques Jonghelinck (1530-1606), Flemish, about 1578-80 |
Physical description | The roundel depicts a violent attack on Antwerp by the Spanish troops that controlled the city at the time. The episode, which took place between 4 and 6 November 1476, was known as the 'Spanish Fury'. In the foreground appears a female figure wringing her hands in grief; the coat of arms beside her identify her as an allegory of the City of Antwerp. Behind her, mercenaries are murdering citizens of Antwerp, while in the background the Town Hall is in flames. |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Purchased with the assistance of the bequest of M. L. Horn and the J. R. Vallentin Fund |
Object history | Whole series (A.33 to A.38-1975) bought for £2,400 with the assistance of the bequest of M. L. Horn and the J. R. Vallentin Fund, from David Peel & Co Ltd, London, in 1975. Historical significance: One of a series of six related plaquettes (A.33-1975 to A.38-1975). The compositions are closely related to, and appear to derive from, drawings by Marten de Vos, which were later engraved by the Wierix brothers - although no drawn prototype survives for this particular plaquette. The series depicts the 'Spanish Fury' of 1576 and the liberation of Antwerp in August 1577. Between 4 and 6 November 1576 mercenaries in the Spanish service launched a full-scale attack on Antwerp, as depicted in this plaquette. Over 2500 citizens were murdered and 100 houses burned down, including the magnificent Town Hall. In August 1577, however, the Netherlandish coalition overthrew the Spanish troops in the citadel (see A.34-1975). They then negotiated with the German mercenaries to withdraw (see A.36-1975). |
Historical context | This is one of a series of roundels depicting the 'Spanish Fury' of 1576 and the liberation of Antwerp in August 1577. |
Place depicted | |
Association | |
Summary | This is one of a series of roundels depicting the 'Spanish Fury' of 1576 and the liberation of Antwerp in August 1577. Between 4 and 6 November 1576 mercenaries in the Spanish service launched a full-scale attack on Antwerp, as depicted in this plaquette. Over 2500 citizens were murdered and 100 houses burned down, including the magnificent Town Hall. In August 1577, however, the Netherlandish coalition overthrew the Spanish troops in the Citadel (see A.34-1975). They then negotiated with the German mercenaries to withdraw (see A.36-1975). The compositions of these bronze plaquettes, of which the V&A holds six (A.33-1975 to A.38-1975), are closely related to a set of seven engravings by the Wierix brothers, after designs by Marten de Vos, published in Antwerp in 1578-79. Five of the original drawings by Marten de Vos are known: four are at the Ashmolean Museum and one at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A drawing for this composition does not survive, nor does a related print by the Wierix brothers. Jeremy Warren notes that a poor-quality lead plaquette showing the same scene of the Spanish Fury as depicted here was sold at Sotheby's, London, in 1996 (European Sculpture and Works of Art, 12 December 1996, no. 63). Comparison of the other V&A plaquettes in this series with the drawings and engravings to which they are related indicates, as Warren has argued, that the plaquettes derived from the drawings, not the engravings, and thus that the plaquettes were very likely made before the prints. No complete set of seven plaquettes has survived; other partial sets, in lead, are at the Ashmolean and the Rijksmuseum. Charles Avery attributed the plaquettes to the medallist and bronze sculptor, Jacques Jonghelinck, who was appointed head of the Mint of Antwerp in 1572. In that role, he would have worked for the Spanish Habsburgs, so it might be surprising that he would then take on these anti-Catholic and anti-Spanish subjects. The attribution, therefore, remains tentative. (Last updated March 2025) |
Associated objects | |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.38-1975 |
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Record created | May 9, 2005 |
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