Artwork
Prince William I after the failed Assassination Attempt by Jean Jaurequi in 1582, Nursed by Charlotte de Bourbon
Prince William I after the failed Assassination Attempt by Jean Jaurequi in 1582, Nursed by Charlotte de Bourbon is an oil painting by Nicolaas Pieneman. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays the immediate aftermath of the unsuccessful 1582 assassination attempt on William the Silent by Jean Jaurequi.
The work portrays the immediate aftermath of the unsuccessful 1582 assassination attempt on William the Silent by Jean Jaurequi. It specifically depicts the injured prince being cared for by his wife, Charlotte of Bourbon. As a history painting, the composition focuses on this dramatic historical event, emphasizing the vulnerability of the wounded leader and the devoted, nurturing role of his spouse during a moment of political and personal crisis.
Technique & Style
Created in 1840 by Nicolaas Pieneman, this history painting is executed in oil paint on a panel support. The work measures 39.2 cm in height and 46.8 cm in width. Produced in the Netherlands, the piece utilizes traditional materials to depict the historical narrative of William the Silent being nursed by Charlotte of Bourbon following an assassination attempt.
The classification as a history painting aligns with its subject matter and the artist's approach to the scene.
History & Provenance
The painting depicting Prince William I after the failed assassination attempt was created in 1840 by Nicolaas Pieneman as a history painting. It was commissioned to illustrate the event and is executed in oil on panel. The work measures 39.2 cm in height and 46.8 cm in width. It entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands, where it remains on display.
Context
Pieneman's 1840 oil painting depicting Prince William the Silent recovering after an assassination attempt, with Charlotte of Bourbon tending to him, was created in the Netherlands and entered the Rijksmuseum collection. The work belongs to the history painting genre, reflecting 19th-century Dutch artistic engagement with national narratives of heroism and survival. Its composition draws on historical events but frames them within Romantic ideals of patriotism and resilience, aligning with broader European trends in political art of the period.
Overview
Nicolaas Pieneman’s 1840 oil painting, part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection, captures a moment from Dutch history. The work portrays Prince William I, known as William the Silent, receiving care after an unsuccessful assassination attempt in 1582, with Charlotte de Bourbon attending to him.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolaas Pieneman (Dutch pronunciation:; 1 January 1809 – 30 December 1860) was a Dutch painter, art collector, lithographer, and sculptor.
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