The Ommegang in Brussels on 31 May 1615: The Triumph of Archduchess Isabella
1616
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1616
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
You’re looking at a huge crowd in a painting from 1616. It’s the Ommegang festival in Brussels, a big parade with nobles, soldiers, and giant floats. Archduchess Isabella sits on a raised platform in the middle, watching the spectacle. This isn’t just a party scene. It’s a real event from 1615, painted the next year to show off the city’s wealth and power. Notice how the artist splits the crowd into neat rows, like a stage play. If you like big public crowds, check out Alsloot, Denys van.
