Laurea Calloana, Theodoor van Thulden, 1635-1641 (c.)

Plate 43: the triumphal car of calloo: in the foreground is an ornate, four-wheeled chariot in the form of a ship bearing a grand trophy-mast, drawn by four caparisoned horses; taking the reigns and raising a whip is the two-faced personification of providentia augusta, one of the cardinal virtues, looking to the past and future; behind her kneel the personifications of antwerp (antverpia), wearing the mural crown and with hands outstretched, and st omer (audomaropolis) gazing up to the medallion of ferdinand above and offering their gratitude; at the base of the trophy-mast sit two winged fames blowing trumpets affixed with banners inscribed 'callinice' and 'io triumphe', acclamations for the conqueror; seated and bound at the base of the mast are several abject french and dutch prisoners of war; on the raised platform at the stern of the chariot-ship stand personifications of virtus (valour), carrying a thunderbolt, and fortune resting her hand on a rudder; at either side of the trophy-mast stand winged victories holding wreaths and raising a garlanded shield bearing an inscription; above them a mass of armour, military implements, and banners extends from the trophy-mast, explained by the inscriptions 'cæsis detracta batavis' (removed from the slain hollanders) and 'de gallis capta fugatis' (captured from the french who were put to flight) on the banners; above is a laurel wreath that serves as a base for the elaborate ornament surmounting the trophy-mast, complete with the coats-of-arms of philip iv and ferdinand, the spanish and austrian flags, a crown, intertwined palm branches and a laurel tree at the top; in the background is a bird's-eye view of the battle of calloo and the surrounding countryside of antwerp; after peter paul rubens; illustration for gaspar gevaerts' "pompa introitus" (antwerp, 1641) etching from two plates. Date: 1635-1641 (c.). Dimensions: Height: 542 mm (plate-mark); Height: 649 mm (sheet); Width: 543 mm; Width: 612 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Gaspar Gevaerts. Collection: British Museum. Laurea Calloana (BM 1884,0112.74)