Allegory of the Dutch Republic’s Victory over England and France

1674

Jupiter and Mercury show the Dutch Maid a book with stories from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. At the left Daphne, pursued by Apollo, changes into a laurel. Next to that Coronis is transformed into a crow. The two scenes glorify the Republic’s military and naval victories under the leadership of Stadholder William III. He drove out the French and English, just as the Dutch lion here gives chase to the Gallic rooster and the English dog.