5525 - Hooghe, Romeyn de - Succession

Hooghe, Romeyn de - Succession Succession. Hollands Hollende Koe - The Galloping Dutch Cow. Etching by Gaspar Bouttats, with a three-column typographic text at the bottom. 38 x 39.6 cm. 1690. In 1690, Hans Willem Bentinck, Earl of Portland and a close, highly influential confidant and ally of the Dutch Stadtholder William III of Orange, returned to the Netherlands. Bentinck hoped to secure support for his patron in his new role as King of England; William III had ascended the English throne in 1689. The Dutch were initially opposed to this political development and resented their stadtholder for assuming a monarchical position and, moreover, for using Dutch resources to wage British wars. The humorous leaflet encapsulates these concerns, depicting Bentinck riding a galloping, blindfolded cow—a symbol of the Netherlands—wearing a crown adorned with jester’s bells, while the cow “milks” England and Germany at its udder. From a saddlebag bearing the inscription “pour les amis,” Bentinck distributes bailiwick offices and other posts, money, and municipal privileges. The accompanying caption provides a detailed explanation of all the scenes. A magnificent, extremely bold print, trimmed on the sides either within or flush with the plate edge, with a narrow margin at the top and the text at the bottom. Somewhat stained and showing signs of wear; the upper left corner is missing; additional edge wear; on the reverse, smoothed fold marks, thin spots, and other handling marks; otherwise in good condition. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog. - Please ask for condition reports for individual lots, as the condition is usually not mentioned in the catalog.