(Utrecht 1586–1666)
Prince Maurice of Orange dismissing the mercenaries in Neude Square in Utrecht on 31 July 1618,
signed and dated lower centre: Joost Cornelis Droochsloot fecit 1620,
oil on panel, 71.5 x 108 cm, framed

The scene depicted in the present painting relates to an important event in the history of the Netherlands. In 1609, at the climax of the Eighty Years’ War, the Netherlands had negotiated the Twelve Years’ Truce with Spain. Not having consolidated against threats from the outside, the young Republic’s unresolved political and religious differences soon made themselves felt. Two opposing camps had formed among the Calvinists: the more moderate and reform-minded Remonstrants on the one hand, and the Counter-Remonstrants on the other. The young stadtholder Maurice of Orange sided with the larger and more powerful conservative group. According to Maurice’s plans, the Remonstrants were to be deprived of their power at a general national synod. His opponent in this matter was the republican politician Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, who had recognised the political dimension of the conflict and understood the proposal of holding a synod as an attack against the sovereignty of his native province, the majority of which supported the Remonstrants. In 1617, a few weeks after Maurice had publicly spoken in favour of the Counter-Remonstrants, several Dutch towns passed the so-called ‘Sharp Resolution’, which permitted them to recruit their own mercenaries. Maurice, as commander-in-chief of the States General, considered this high treason and saw the danger of the young Republic’s premature downfall. Having travelled to Utrecht on 25 July in order to dissolve the town council and dismiss the newly recruited mercenaries, he was confronted by the councilmen and the town’s private army of mercenaries on the morning of 31 July. What makes this event so outstanding is that the day ended peacefully and without bloodshed, with the mercenaries retreating without offering resistance.

Droochsloot has depicted this very moment: the peaceful settlement of the conflict is emphasised by the way the Prince of Orange has politely lifted his hat to the rebellious councillors. The members of the mounted entourage of the Prince of Orange have gathered in the foreground of the wide square. In the left background we can see the Convent of Saint Cecilia and, in front of it, the headquarters of the mercenaries, who are heading in its direction in order to hand in their weapons. Opposite the headquarters, the Count of Nassau’s company stands in formation as a symbol of restored order. As a consequence of this decisive incident, Maurice succeeded in dissolving the mercenary troops in most of the towns. Only four weeks later, on 29 August, Oldenbarnevelt was arrested in The Hague, he was executed on 12 May 1619. The authority of the States General and the House of Orange was thus restored. It is therefore not surprising that Droochsloot depicted this crucial day in Dutch history in several versions.

There can be no doubt that this is the most ambitious composition in the artist’s oeuvre. Further variants are preserved at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, and the Centralmuseum in Utrecht. A further version was sold at Dorotheum, Vienna, on 20 October 2015. The present painting is documented in the database of the RKD, The Hague, under no. 266599.