Artwork

Ratification of the Peace of Münster between Spain and the Dutch Republic in the town hall of Münster, 15 May 1648

Ratification of the Peace of Münster between Spain and the Dutch Republic in the town hall of Münster, 15 May 1648 is an oil painting. It dates from 1648 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The scene centers on the signing of the treaty in the town hall of Münster, where diplomats from both sides gather at a table covered with documents and seals.

The painting depicts the formal ratification of the Peace of Münster on 15 May 1648, a pivotal moment ending the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Dutch Republic. The scene centers on the signing of the treaty in the town hall of Münster, where diplomats from both sides gather at a table covered with documents and seals. In the foreground, a young woman in white lace hands a letter to a seated Spanish delegate, symbolizing the exchange of ratified instruments and the commitment to peace.

The composition emphasizes reconciliation and state ceremony, with flags, treaty copies, and the presence of witnesses underscoring the solemnity and international significance of the agreement. By visualizing this historical event, the work commemorates the establishment of Dutch independence and the beginning of a new political order in Europe.

Technique & Style

The work is executed as an oil painting on a copper support, a medium choice that contributes to the surface's characteristic smoothness and luminosity. Measuring 46 cm in height and 60 cm in width, the piece functions as a history painting depicting the formal ratification of the Peace of Münster. Stylistically, it serves as a reproduction or variant after Gerard ter Borch the Younger, adhering to the formal conventions of seventeenth-century Dutch history painting.

The compact dimensions and metal ground suggest a format intended for detailed, refined handling rather than monumental display.

History & Provenance

The painting depicting the ratification of the Peace of Münster on 15 May 1648 was created in the same year, 1648. Executed on a copper support, the work is classified as a history painting and is identified as being after Gerard ter Borch (II). The piece measures 46 cm in height and 60 cm in width.

It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The creation date is recorded as 1648, aligning with the historical event it portrays.

Overview

The copper engraving records the formal ratification of the Peace of Münster on 15 May 1648, when representatives of Spain and the Dutch Republic gathered in the town hall of Münster to finalize the treaty that concluded the Eighty‑Years' War. The scene is rendered with meticulous detail, capturing the solemn atmosphere of the diplomatic ceremony.

Context

The Peace of Münster formed part of the broader Peace of Westphalia, which reshaped the political map of Europe by recognizing Dutch independence and establishing principles of state sovereignty. The engraving reflects contemporary interest in documenting statecraft and the emerging practice of using prints to disseminate political events.