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The 'Spanish Fury' at Antwerp
Jonghelinck, Jacques de, born 1530 - died 1606 - Enlarge image
The 'Spanish Fury' at Antwerp
- Object:
Relief
- Place of origin:
Antwerp (made)
- Date:
ca. 1580 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Jonghelinck, Jacques de, born 1530 - died 1606 (makers)
- Materials and Techniques:
Bronze
- Museum number:
A.38-1975
- Gallery location:
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery, case DR19
This is one of a series of roundels depicting the 'Spanish Fury' of 1576 and events at Antwerp in August 1577. Between 4–6 November 1576 mercenaries in the Spanish service launched a full-scale attack on Antwerp (see this medal). 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, as depicted in the medal A.34-1975. They then negotiated with the German mercenaries to withdraw (see inv.no. A.36-1975).
Five of the compositions are derived from a set of seven engravings by the Wierix brothers, after designs by Marten de Vos. That showing the Spanish Fury, a separate event, has no direct prototype and is unique. The translation of the engravings into low-reliefs is highly competent and bespeaks the hand of a master, as does their technical excellence. The minuteness of detail and the style of the figures points towards the medallist and bronze-sculptor, Jacques Jongheling, who was Master at the Mint at that time.
Jongheling worked in the Mannerist style that was common to all media in Antwerp in the last third of the sixteenth century.
